I write about the challenges we Christians face in trying to create work lives in sync with our faith, beliefs, and values.

I'm Winnie Anderson. It took a horrible car accident to get me to realize how precious life is...to get me to begin the journey to get my life and career in alignment with my faith, beliefs, and values.

I’m willing to bet I was alot like you...

You probably have a hectic life that's crammed with work and you struggle to make time for all the other "must do" things on your list...family...friends...taking care of your home...

You put in long hours at work and still it's never enough. You get project after project piled on top of you. As much as you like the people you work with there are times when you get frustrated with them and you may find yourself snapping at them more and more. You may even find yourself snapping at those you love because you carry stress and negative emotions home with you.

I had a very visible position as the training manager at a casino hotel owned by an international company. I traveled to sister properties to share and transfer the company's culture and management philosophies, training and coaching managers and executives, and training and coaching the human resources staff. When someone had a challenge trying to teach a staff member or develop their employees, I was the person they called for help. I was set to make a giant leap in my career and be named Corporate Director of Training.

In my heart…I was miserable.

I was sick of working 6 and 7 days a week. Sick of sacrificing so much of myself for the business. I knew I didn’t want any more of that regardless of how much they wanted to pay me. I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time, but I knew there was something missing in my life and I needed to find it. I could feel myself being pulled in a different direction.

So I gave my notice and left.

I eventually took a job with the local office of a national nonprofit. I thought working for a charity and serving others would make me happy and would help me feel I was doing what God wanted me to do. But soon…after 3 promotions in 18 months…I was back on the treadmill, working 6 and 7 days a week…10 and 12 hours a day…working to complete my Master’s degree…and I was incredibly unhappy.

Then the unthinkable happened…

I was in an accident so awful, the EMTs who saw my car assumed I was dead.

During my slow and painful recovery I spent a lot of time wondering why I had survived. I often asked God what mission could be so important that I had been allowed to live when so many others die from similar injuries.

While I tried to understand the messages He was sending, I knew one thing: I wouldn’t – I couldn’t – go back to the corporate life I had known.

I had been given a tremendous opportunity and I knew I wasn’t going to waste it. I would do whatever it took to create a life that was balanced and in sync with my beliefs. I would get in touch with the strengths, talents, and core gifts God gave me and use them to fulfill the mission he entrusted me with...once I figured out what that was. I would live a life dominated with joy and I'd bring joy to others.

It hasn't been easy...and I've made a lot of mistakes along the way...but I’m doing it.

I know there are lots of people who look at my education and work experience and think I should be a vice president somewhere. But that doesn't interest me and I don't believe it's where God wants me to be.

I know now the reason God needed me to go through the pain and struggle of my accident. It was so I’d understand that I needed to get off that merry-go-round I was on. It was to get me to stop thinking about myself. I believe He wants me to use the strengths, talents, and core gifts He gave me to help other professionals discover how to live their faith at work and create a life that’s in sync with their beliefs and values…A life that’s focused on Him…a life that truly reflects the light of Christ in their actions…that’s focused on what’s truly important…where work is a pleasure, not a struggle…where you have a full life that’s filled with the things that matter.

If you're feeling miserable at work...like you're searching for something you just haven't found...don't just listen for God's message but feel it. Feel where He's pulling you. He's calling you for something special. That doesn't mean He wants you to run off to become an ordained minister or go to medical school...Because it's not just ordained ministers or doctors who do profound work. Each of us ministers to people every day just by bringing the light of Christ into their lives.

I'll be honest with you...I don't know where this journey is taking me but if you feel you're struggling with these same issues I'd love to have you as my friend along the way.

Can You Spare 7 Minutes Twice Each Month for God?

In the time it takes you read one email and write your response you can read an issue of The Mustard Seed, the twice-monthly newsletter that gives you information, tips, and resources to help you live your faith in the office and connect your faith, beliefs, and values to the work you do every day. Sign up and receive a fr*ee chapter to the book "Faith From 9 to 5: How to Overcome the Seven Deadly Sins and Live Your Faith at Work." Ken Blanchard, legendary management guru and author of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus calls it "...provocative and reflective."