Originally penned in November 2009. Updated for today’s journey.
Back in late 2009, I wrote these words while sitting in a quiet corner of reflection, freshly transitioned into a new career field—Healthcare. Though the setting has changed, the lessons still echo.
At the time, I was adjusting after years of working in the nonprofit religious sector. Entering a new industry felt both familiar and foreign. Healthcare was in my bloodline—many of my relatives had walked this path—but for me, this step was divine and unexpected.
Looking back, I realize the opportunity came not just through diligence, but through a divine reset. I had spent so much time updating résumés, contacting recruiters, and refining my personal brand. What I hadn’t done enough of? Thanking God in advance. I’d stopped praying about my next assignment—even though I had never stopped working toward it.
I was operating in hustle mode, but my spirit had gone silent.
On the flip side, I had been pouring energy into building a business. I was confessing and studying scripture over it. But even then, my strategy lacked structure. I wasn’t making room for focused study time, goal setting, or the self-discipline needed to steward all I was asking God for.
That’s when it started: the decoding of a former workaholic.
I was forced to examine why I always seemed busy—but rarely finished what I started. Why I was burning out in the name of purpose. Why “productive” often meant “distracted.”
So, I made a shift.
A New Kind of Productivity
I took an honest assessment of how I was managing my time. And here’s what I discovered:
- Putting God first wasn’t just a phrase—it had to be a posture. He deserved my undivided attention, not just the scraps after everything else.
- No more new projects without closing out the ones I’d already started—and without first consulting God in prayer.
- Offline connections mattered. Socializing with like-minded people refueled me more than scrolling ever could.
- My environment was ripe with opportunity. I just had to look around—neighborhood, community, even the grocery store line.
- God’s peace was enough. I stopped second-guessing when He’d already given me a quiet “yes.”
- I tapped into my personal network. Friends, family, former colleagues—they became mentors, not just cheerleaders.
- I stopped rejecting favor. I began to receive love and appreciation without guilt, learning to see myself as God sees me—worthy, precious, and whole.
And yes, I was 31 years old when I wrote those words—but I took comfort in good company. Jesus began His ministry at 30. Growth is right on time.
The Balance I’m Still Learning
Today, I no longer wear busy as a badge of honor. My work doesn’t define me—it serves me. And ultimately, it serves others.
I trust God as my source—not the job, the title, or the paycheck.
Because how can my spirit yield to the Holy Spirit if it’s always stressed?
Why hold on to burdens when God has already given me permission to lay them down?
So, I continue to be decoded…
- I leave work on time.
- I eat lunch away from my desk.
- I have learned to simple walks.
- I care for my physical, mental, and spiritual health.
- I invest in my relationships.
And above all, I believe this:
God + Me = More Than Enough.
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
