Changing careers at any age can be risky but deciding to make a midlife career change may seem like an utterly foolish idea. However, when you search the Bible you’ll see that when God shifted the lives of many biblical figures when they were 40, 50 and and older.

If you’ve been feeling the nudge to change your career path or if you’ve been a stay at home parent ready for the next part of your journey then this post is just for you!

Why Do You Want to Change Careers
Before you even begin to take a step toward career change – you need to be honest with yourself about why you are considering it.

1. Are you just dissatisfied with your job?

If so, maybe a complete change of careers isn’t necessary – maybe a promotion or a new company altogether would be a better idea.

Uprooting your work life because of some dissatisfaction with the company or a boss you don’t like is a hasty decision that the Bible warns against. As Proverbs 21:5 states “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”

Another thing to consider is how you’re feeling about your life in general – if you’re feeling unhappy and discontent with your life as a whole – then it won’t matter what kind of job you get – after 6 months or a year you’ll find something wrong with the new job and want something different.

Ask yourself if you’re trying to fill a void in your life that no job or career change can fill. Only God can fill that void – seek Him in prayer to begin that process before you begin changing professions.

2. Will this new career only help you make more money?

There is nothing inherently wrong with making more money to live a more comfortable life and to provide for yourself and family. If your new career will grant that, make sure that money isn’t the only thing that this job will provide.

In midlife – we should be mature enough to now know that money is a tool that God provides but it’s not designed to take the place of God and our dependence upon Him. Proverbs 1:19 is clear “Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.”

If this new career path doesn’t offer you anything else but an increase in pay and does not glorify God in any way, then you need to be crystal clear as to whether God has called you to it.

3. Are you moved by your passion but unsure if it’s God’s purpose for your life?

Having a passion towards a certain group of people, cause, craft, etc is exhilarating! It can also be scary because you may begin to wonder – God is this you telling me to do this? Is this what you really want me to do?

I’ve been passionate about many things in my life but only a few of them have been purposeful. Following your passion however, is not the same as walking in or following your purpose.

You may be so passionate about something that you run ahead of God and start doing some things you aren’t prepared for. You also have to be keenly aware of making sure that the thing you are so passionate about does not become an idol in your life and edge God out.

With just those three thoughts in mind – before you make this drastic – potentially life altering career change – make sure this is something God has called you to do. This is where the practical meets the spiritual. Making a decision such as this needs to be taken very seriously.

This is the time to connect with God on an intimate level. If your relationship with God is not a priority for you, then making a career change right now may be ill-advised.

I’m not fear mongering but if you take a look back over your life at decisions you’ve made based on dissatisfaction, money, and pure passion without consulting and being in intimate communication with God – you know the consequences.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting Before Career Change
Before you decide to go headlong into the process of career change I suggest that you take 40 days of daily prayer and fasting. In that time read scriptures, meditate on them and write your prayer requests out to God. Every day – at least 2 times a day read or recite your prayer and watch for God to speak throughout the days and weeks.

You may find at the end of this time that you don’t have clarity on the decision – but that you feel more at peace with yourself and current circumstances. The goal with ANYTHING in life is to be at peace.

I believe God is way more concerned about us being conformed into His image while we’re running a cash register or running a company than He is about whether we should be the cashier or the CEO.

We must remember that our Father is more concerned about our character than our cash.

Are you thinking about changing careers? In what ways have you sought God for clarity? I’d love to hear about your journey!