God's children: forever employed

IF we've been out of work a long time, it may look as though we're just not needed. But this isn't true! Each of us is precious to God and essential to Him. Each of us has a unique purpose, a special niche to fill. The teachings of Christian Science help us understand our individual spiritual nature and our importance in the scheme of things. Christian Science, in harmony with the Bible, asserts that each of us was created to express God, to reflect the divine nature in a special way. The Bible represents God as saying, ``This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.'' 1 Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, echoes this idea. She writes: ``Man is the expression of God's being. If there ever was a moment when man did not express the divine perfection, then there was a moment when man did not express God, and consequently a time when Deity was unexpressed--that is, without entity.'' 2 Have we considered that our purpose in employment is to glorify God? We may not have thought much beyond the necessity of earning a living. But actually, our spiritual purpose is to bear witness to our creator, to praise Him by actively expressing His nature. Christ Jesus' life and teachings clearly point to this fact. A job gives us the opportunity to express a multitude of God-derived qualities, like honesty, humility, unselfishness, discipline, intelligence, intuition, and strength. Since Deity created us to praise Him, and employment gives us the opportunity to do just that, can't we expect to be guided, through prayer to our creator, to the job that's right for us? It's in accord with divine law that our abilities be fully employed. When we pray, when we commune with God earnestly and meekly, we begin to get a clear sense of direction. Divine Mind gives us infallible guidance. As the Bible assures us, ``Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.'' 3 Admittedly, it's not always easy to hear God's messages or respond to divine impulsions. Our prayer will be more effective if we silence the fears that would keep us from hearing God's voice. We can reject vehemently the nagging suggestion that it's all hopeless, that we'll never find the right job. To Almighty God, nothing is hopeless! Also to be silenced are insidious thoughts of inability and insecurity. Let's remember that God created us to glorify Him. Our divine Father-Mother has given us His own nature to express. We can begin to recognize our assets. Let's take stock of our integrity, intelligence, intuition, and so forth, and realize that these are the talents we offer to a prospective employer. Regardless of our educational background or work experience, each of us has valuable qualities to bring to a job. When we turn to God for guidance in our job search, let's pray with great expectancy. Not with doubtful hearts or fearing minds, but with a spiritual conviction that we will be led to just the right place. All-knowing divine Mind will never desert us. As we're listening faithfully to our God and heeding humbly every right idea that comes, we'll find ourselves usefully employed. 1 Isaiah 43:21. 2 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 470. 3 Isaiah 30:21. 30{et