Early in my career, there was a moment that really stuck with me. Around 2010, a coworker named Sheila said, “Rebecca, I’m surprised to hear that you’re a pastor’s wife.”
At the time, my husband, Ray, was a pastor on staff at a local church, and I was very involved in ministry alongside him. Sheila’s comment caught me off guard. What did she mean? Was I not living in a way that reflected my faith? Was she judging me for not fitting some idealized image of a pastor’s wife?
I didn’t have a good response in the moment. But the comment stuck with me. As I got to know Sheila better, I learned she grew up in a legalistic faith tradition where women didn’t wear pants, jewelry, or makeup. This gave some context to her comment. I’ve always loved big hair, big jewelry, and cute shoes, so I was definitely not Sheila’s idea of a pastor’s wife.
Still, her comment prompted a moment of conviction for me. It challenged me to ask: If people didn’t know I was a Christian, would what my colleagues see at work give it away?
As Christians, people should never be surprised to learn we follow Christ. Our faith should be evident in how we speak, how we treat others, and how we lead—even in our “secular” workplaces.
Living Out Your Faith at Work
Living out your faith at work can mean walking into a spiritual battle every single day. In Ephesians 6:10-11, Paul reminds us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
The enemy wants us distracted, discouraged, and disqualified, but God gives us tools and spiritual armor to stay grounded in truth and filled with his Spirit. A quote written on a Post-It Note stuck to my monitor at the office says, “Love isn’t glossing over the truth. Love is being willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel with compassion.” This quote reminds me that truth and love are not opposites.
Living out your faith at work doesn’t always mean quoting Scripture or praying at your desk, though I do both of those at times. Sometimes it means showing integrity. Sometimes it means giving grace. Sometimes it means respectfully saying “no” when it would be easier to say “yes.” And sometimes it just means being someone who no one would be surprised to learn is a Christian.
Here are some practical tips and habits I use to help me remember to live out my faith at work.
1. I listen to sermons or spiritual podcasts as I get ready in the morning. This tunes my heart to the gospel before the noise of the world begins. Oftentimes on Monday mornings, I relisten to the sermon from Sunday. This helps put what I heard on Sunday fresh in my mind before I start the week.
2. I subscribe to devotional emails. One is delivered in the evening before bed and another early in the morning. This is an easy way for me to start and end my day in Scripture.
3. I pray on my commute to work—sometimes with specific requests, sometimes just asking God to be present in my attitude, decisions, and conversations. Intentionally using this time to pray helps focus my heart.
4. I keep my heart guarded throughout the day. It’s so easy at work to get distracted with busyness. I try to pause and pray before tense meetings. Not just for a successful meeting, but for my response to others—that I would be slow to speak, quick to listen, and full of grace—even when things don’t go my way.
5. I get creative with my computer passwords. Think about how many times you type in passwords each day. What if the words you typed were a reminder of God’s goodness or a reminder to pray? For me these subtle prompts help me refocus my heart and mind during times of stress and busyness.
I’ve heard it said that your workplace might be your biggest ministry. Your job may not seem “spiritual” on the surface, but the kingdom of God is not confined to churches or Sunday mornings. It’s built in conference rooms, classrooms, coffee shops, and construction sites—anywhere you carry his presence. The gospel is not just for Sundays, but for all of life. Consider now what habits you can build into your workday to remind you to live out your faith.
