Routed in Prayer: A Devotional for Those Starting New JobsSample

Day 2: Information overload

Express Route

Information overload is real, and it’s exhausting. When our hearts and minds are feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to remember to unburden ourselves by seeking the presence and protection of God. Let’s start a habit: seeking God’s shelter throughout the working day, and debriefing each day in prayer. 

Scenic Route

Read: Psalm 61 

Reflect: Congratulations! You made it through the first day at your new job, and that’s no mean feat. It was probably a bit of a blur, with new names to learn and forms aplenty to complete. As day two begins, you’re likely a little frazzled but also excited to start learning more about your actual job. 

The information overload that you’ll experience in these first few days and weeks is completely normal. There are new systems to learn, new colleagues to befriend, new routes to navigate, while everyone else just seems to effortlessly know these things, right?! 

It’s very reasonable to be completely exhausted at the end of each day at the moment… and pumped as well! You might even be a little bit cross with yourself for not knowing everything yet. That’s okay.

Psalm 61 is a psalm of confident trust. Verse 2 is not just a statement about how you feel inside, but that feeling when your whole being is running out of energy. But it’s then, the psalm says, that we can turn to God and find refuge.

As we bring our overwhelmed brains, racing thoughts, and tired bodies before God, we find that He is our refuge and strong tower – we can flee into His presence and protection when our hearts ‘grow faint’.

Today, and in the days, weeks, and months going forward, know this: God will hear your cry, and listen to your prayer. He is a safe place, a refuge, and under His wings we find shelter and rest. 

Pray: If you can, sit down at the end of the day with your favourite drink or snack and debrief the day with God. Pray through some of the emotions you’re feeling, vocalise some of those racing thoughts, and spend time dwelling on the presence and protection of God. If you’re artistic, why not draw this psalm? If you’re busy, just memorise one verse and keep it at the forefront of your mind as you go back into work tomorrow.