Finding a Fulfilling Career Path

Margie Eddington shares how, despite challenges and closed doors along the way, God led her step-by-step to just the right career.

By Margie Eddington

Categories: Guidance, Power of Prayer, Sermon on the Mount

Sometimes we pray but don’t feel our prayers are answered. And we wonder if we’re praying right or if God’s not hearing. But maybe, just maybe, we aren’t supposed to get those things we think we want. Maybe God has something else in store for us—something better than we can imagine, something God wants us to do, and perhaps it's even something we really want too, but never thought could happen.

After I graduated from college, I wasn’t quite sure which direction to take. I had a few options and tried a couple different things. I even tried to make it as an actress, as I had been on the stage my whole life, and theatre was part of me. But the scene wasn’t for me. Often I found myself in deep, heartfelt prayer asking God for guidance. There were moments of struggle and of deep surrender to God’s plan for me—whatever that was. But I did want to know what it was! That would be helpful. So I took the steps that seemed right and ended up getting admitted into a well-known Midwest university to pursue graduate studies in history. I even had a roommate and an apartment all lined up and had even put down a deposit.

But when it came time to enroll in classes, nothing that I wanted was open. And I mean nothing. Not a single class that would forward my educational goals was open. It was hard not to get frustrated with all the time I was spending knocking on closed doors. But oddly, I didn’t go very far down that path. Rather, I started seeing it as an indication that perhaps going to this university was not God’s plan for me.

Jesus tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt 7:7, 8 NIV). I knew I was certainly asking, seeking, and knocking. And I also knew I was seeking aright. I wasn’t trying to outline. I was seeking to do God’s will, sincerely asking God to guide my career and my life. But the door wasn’t opening. And this prayer has a promised conclusion: open doors.

It was difficult to call my friend and tell her I wouldn’t be renting the apartment with her, but I felt totally at peace. And she was gracious and soon found someone else to rent with her. (I can’t remember if I ever got the deposit back, but I refused to let money get in the way of following God’s direction.) Meanwhile, I turned again to God for guidance. I took temporary employment and ended up being accepted into a university where I lived, but this time to earn a secondary teaching credential in English. The angel message came to me to take the National Teachers Examination in history as well, which I passed. I ended up being credentialed in two subject areas, which proved very useful. The timing of my degree was such that I was able to start on my Masters in English before getting a job, which was another blessing.

I applied for a teaching position where I student taught. To my disbelief, I didn’t get it. This time, it was much harder to take the rejection. I thought the job was perfect for me. I was incredibly disappointed. But knowing that God takes us all the way, and knowing that God was guiding my career, I didn’t stay in disappointment. What was the point? Rather, I trusted. I asked again. I sought guidance from God. And I kept applying to places, doing temporary work, teaching summer school.

I was offered a job to teach history and drama. It couldn’t have been more perfect. The next year I was able to switch to teaching English and drama and soon built the drama program so that I was full-time in drama. I had never thought I would be able to teach drama, even though I student-taught in it, because there simply weren’t a lot of drama positions available. It had seemed like that door was closed. But God opened it. And I loved it and was so blessed by it. Now, as a mom, I am able to help with my children’s drama productions and take part in their education in a very meaningful way.

I am so very grateful that God does indeed answer our asks, helps us find the path, and opens those doors which bring infinite blessings.