From Unemployable To Self-employed: God’s Blueprint For Success
Get Clarity On Where God is Taking You
There have been so many times when I wanted to go in a specific direction but had no clue if taking that step was the right path for me. Not until I realised that taking it to God in prayer needed to be the first protocol to get the clarity and direction I was missing. When an idea came to me in the past, my default setting was to go to Google and see what other people were saying instead of going to God in prayer. I think that it was my go-to for so long because I had no clue that prayer was simply talking to God like I would a friend or family member. It took a while before talking to God became comfortable and my new default setting.
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to not assume we know it all but to put our trust in Him if we want to succeed. By relying on God to guide us and help us make decisions, we will find ourselves on the right track. We don’t have to figure things out alone; instead, run to God and let Him help you navigate complex things in a manner that glorifies Him. If you’re unsure about something, ask God for clarity. Remember, there is nothing wrong with seeking God's help on what to do (Matthew 6:33). By going to Him, you can get direction on your calling and the specific skills He wants you to use or monetise.
Ask for confirmation. God often speaks through multiple sources. So be open to how He confirms things. For example, when God was calling me to podcasting, He used a movie my mum was watching to confirm that podcasting was the platform I should start creating content on.
Meet a Need or Solve a Problem
These biblical examples show that God often works outside the lines of conventional employment. He equips those who people think are unlikely to succeed. So, how can you move from "unemployable" to "self-employed" God's way? Here are three ways from people in the Bible that you can glean from:
Moses (Exodus 3:1–10): A shepherd who escaped imprisonment, considered unfit to be a leader, but chosen by God to free an entire nation. His job, "self-employed by God," was to lead a massive group of people (exodus) out of a system that kept them enslaved for years (Egypt), a task far beyond any traditional job description. Moses had the natural ability to lead others, even before he realised it. But it wasn’t until he encountered God that he discovered his purpose at a time he felt unqualified to do. Yet God had plans for Moses, one that included being employed by Him to fulfil a mission that can be traced from his time in Egypt. This became a perfect training ground for Moses to be equipped to face Pharaoh and led his people out of captivity.
David (1 Samuel 16:11-13, 1 Samuel 17): A young shepherd boy, ignored by his family, was chosen king by prophet Samuel to be king. David's journey strayed from typical jobs. He answered his calling and used what worked for him (the five smooth stones) to defeat the giants that challenged his purpose. David’s path was unique and the exact experience he needed to have in order for God to position him. He may have been seen as an unlikely candidate, but God took his training as a shepherd and made him a leader.
The Apostle Paul (Acts 18:1-3): A tentmaker by trade, Paul supported his ministry with his own hands when he wasn’t being supported by the church he preached at. He combined his skills with his calling, demonstrating that self-employment can be a powerful tool for serving God. Paul’s focus was spreading the gospel, and in some circumstances he felt that being dependent on the church to financially support him could hinder that, which is why he took a stance and chose to go self-employed to prove to the people that they couldn’t influence his messages and would not be dictated by others on how he preached. By supporting himself and funding his mission trips, Paul was able to spread the gospel God’s way.
Use Your God-Given Talents (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Everyone of us has something God can use to help generate an income alongside our ministry. Whether that one or five things you can use to go self-employed. Don’t be like the person with the one talent who buried what He had (Matthew 25:14–30—the parable of the talents). God has unquiely gifted us with natural talents and abilities we can hone to glorify God and reach a group of people who need it. Some may be a way to bring in a temporary income, and others on a more permanent basis.
While not every gift can be monetised. Don't dismiss seemingly "small" skills. They may be the very tools God wants you to use to help you generate passive income or provide a service around. These are all valuable skills to someone who is willing to pay you to help them learn it so they can do it themselves or provide an ongoing service that they can access as and when they need it—for example, a cleaning/organisation service. This can be a great income source if you like both of these things and can offer it at a rate that allows you to take on a limited amount of clients on a monthly basis to cover your personal expenses. Giving you time to work on your ministry.
Call to Action:
If you’re ready to step out in faith and embrace the path of self-employment God's way, make sure you implement these 4 things.
Pray: Ask God to reveal His plan for your life (Matthew 6:33). Don't let fear or doubt hold you back from asking God simple and complex things to help you move forward.
Study: read biblical stories that inspire you to pursue opportunities that you would have otherwise dismissed.
Act: Take a small step towards that goal today, whether it's researching a business idea, developing a new skill, or networking with others who are or want to do the same thing as you.
Join a community: Find other Christian entrepreneurs to help build you up. This process can get hard and lonely, so finding a group of like-minded women is key to keeping you accountable and focused.
In summary, while we may not know the beginning from the end, God does. So remember, God is faithful, and He will equip you for the journey. All you need to do is embrace His calling and watch Him transform you from "unemployable" status into a thriving, purpose-driven business.
