From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Trusting God Led Me to Leave My Church Volunteer Role and Find My True Calling
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Feeling unappreciated and burnt out in your church or workplace? In this honest and personal blog post, I share my journey of volunteering as a brew crew member, wrestling with discouragement, seeking deeper connection, and asking God for direction when a new opportunity appeared. Discover how letting go, listening for God’s guidance, and trusting the process led me from exhaustion and uncertainty to a new job and a renewed sense of purpose. If you’ve ever wondered when it’s time to move on-or how faith can guide your next step-this story is for you.
Covered by the Blood of Jesus: Feeling Unappreciated at Church? Fed up being a healthcare assistant? My Honest Story of Moving On and Trusting God. P.S. No longer a healthcare assistant.
You’re reading the completed current post: · Story about my situation with the volunteering role + how I knew God wanted me to apply for the new role.
In this post, I’ll be sharing my personal experience volunteering at church as a brew crew member (someone who serves tea and coffee at the end of the service) and how I trusted in God when applying for a new role. Then, at the end of the post, I’ll tell you the 5 key signs to look out for that signal it's time to leave your volunteering role/job.
About a month ago, I worked my last day as a member of the brew crew.
I started on 03/05/25.
A bit of context: I joined a new church after the vicar left my former church, which was not growing but declining in numbers and whose sermons felt dry, back in 2024. I tried out a few courses at the new church and really liked that it was focused on serving the wider community, especially through a cafe that opens every Monday and offers a meal for £2. I started attending Sunday services and then volunteered, first as a toddler youth assistant and then as a brew crew member, serving coffee and pastries to the congregation before and after the service. I was initially very keen to help out because I felt that sense of involvement was missing, and I genuinely enjoy being involved with the church.
What I lacked in my previous church, I tried to make up for in a newer one.
I volunteered for 8 months and saw many people come and go. Over time, I stopped enjoying it and felt less appreciated, which made volunteering less fulfilling. I now understand why some hesitate to volunteer. While organisations need help, the return on satisfaction can be limited.
I know in the church setting it’s about giving. Sometimes you give what is precious to you, your time. As a result, I often felt a lack of what I personally needed or wanted. I didn’t need more people bossing me around. If you’re okay with taking your days off to help any organisation, church-related or not, and getting bossed around even when you know what you’re doing but still feel belittled and inadequate, that’s tough. I know you can find that anywhere, but don’t go chasing glory. Life situations will humble you again and again.
At first, I thought I could stay- at least it would motivate me to attend the service, I thought, not realising it actually takes away my time from hearing God’s message.
What I have gained, or realised, is that no matter how much you do for God’s people, it can make you a bit burnt out. I know what to expect in secular places, but the church is the same. They are all the same, just different organisations. Literally the same people with different faces. The church setting is no different.
Team members, whether godly or not, are all the same. Just one chose to give their life to Christ, meaning I will see one of them in heaven. I see no difference in actions, only church attendance, not that I can judge. Unless I see others surpassing the Pharisees, I cannot see how one is a lover of God. So I can understand when someone says there’s no such thing as good or bad people, only repentant and unrepentant sinners.
Still, maybe it’s partly because I am hurt and introverted. Perhaps not everyone is looking for the same connections I value. Not all are concerned with team dynamics or conflict. Life repeatedly shows that those who appear friendly and outgoing can sometimes be the most challenging to work with.
I felt closer to my Christian colleagues at work than I do to my fellow church members.
Sometimes I feel more alone with Christians of my age than I do with ungodly people. There’s a great disconnect. They say there’s a skill gap in a job between what employers expect from graduates, but for me, I see a bigger disconnect among fellow believers. What I can never comprehend is that in heaven we will be so close, we will be full of love, but on this earth, there is something that disconnects us from even our brothers. There is no disconnect with God’s holy angels, so why is there with us?
I don’t want to wait in heaven to rejoice with God’s people. I want it now. Where is the heaven on earth that people have described? As an empath, I keep hoping for true connection, but I’ve learned humans rarely fully understand each other. There’s more sympathy than empathy and more selfishness than real compassion.
I hate the fact that there are true believers out there, but I will never get to meet them until we are all one in heaven with Jesus.
So, I am saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new.
I’m always looking to connect with people who will edify me and help build my character, confidence, and success. My advice: Don’t stay somewhere you feel stuck or stagnant. God wants you in environments that help you grow, not ones that hold you back.
This is coming from a believer tired of feeling unnoticed and stuck in a volunteer role. I know this is just a starting point, and I am meant for greater things. Serving tea and coffee isn’t my end.
As some of you may know, I traded the brew crew volunteering role for another: joining the community grocery team, which I believe will benefit the broader community. I also just got a new job within the organisation I’m currently working for.
Now, I want to share a testimony about trusting God for a new role!
*This was back when I was stuck in a job I really disliked (hated), and I also wanted a reason to leave (quit) my volunteer role 3 months back
How God made a way for a new volunteering role at church
I initially applied to being part of a new initiative from the church as they were renovating for the unused office building next door and turning it into a community grocery- they needed some volunteers to help out for when the grocery opening in April, one of the help they needed with is basically retail work, unsure if I would be able to help at the community grocery from my unfixed schedule doing shift work, I skipped the first meeting. After feeling discouraged because one of the main leads said she agreed I wouldn’t be able to volunteer because they needed members with a fixed schedule, but God made a way...
So they sent a second round of emails asking people interested in helping out to meet on different dates, and I joined on a whim and said I could help out 1 Saturday a month. At this point, I applied for a new role at my current company.
So I can officially say that...
I’m looking forward to being part of the community grocery team (just found out last week that I will be part of the warehouse team, and I hope I’m not going to do heavy lifting and break my back- we’ll see)- a new building the church has extended next door, serving groceries at a reduced price of £5 per visit. It’s what I do best, as I have experience in retail, serving customers and ensuring their needs are met. I’ve always wanted to serve the less fortunate, and I’m glad (honestly, I was glad, now having second thoughts). God is giving me this opportunity to grow and shine.
1 month prior to...
Work was getting harder and more demanding- I’ve started to really struggle in team dynamics, and kept feeling inadequate with my skills every day doing care work. So, I cried out to God for the first time in the healthcare Job- and said to him, “I don’t want to do this anymore”- I can’t see myself being a healthcare assistant forever and working with colleagues I really don’t get along with, who make me feel like I’m not doing a good job.
God knew I didn’t feel like I did well in team dynamics, so He opened a door for me…
If I can take you back to August 2025, my Mum had ear surgery, and I noticed there was a specific role for those serving and ordering meals in the hospital whilst being there for my mum... I thought I would like that kind of job if it were available, the idea of a hospital job where they just focus on serving meals. So I kept on wishing for days when I do not have to answer the constant call bell when patients rang for assistance, when I do not have to try to find colleagues to help me with a patient desperate for the loo… when I do not feel inadequate because of the lack of staff and how busy a ward can get- I was so tired from it all.
I longed for an escape… escape from the constant noise, where I don’t rush and cannot sit down, I long for recognition in my role… it got so bad some days in my job that (I’m repeating it again) I broke down to God and cried out to him, saying I don’t want to be a healthcare assistant anymore, I’m tired of feeling made inadequate in my role, I’m tired of the people I’m working with as at times it’s not the patient that’s the trouble it was the colleagues I’m working with.
So the organisation I worked for opened a new role in December 2025, specifically looking for someone who can work solely in the kitchen, serving breakfast and lunch and ordering medical supplies. As it would make a significant difference freeing up time for the healthcare assistant so the staff can focus more on the floor in the ward serving the patients with personal care needs- as former ways they would assigned a healthcare assistant to do the kitchen role and both personal care but that’s a little troubling not only for too many demands but also infection control as many staff members complained that it’s no good serving food and yet helping patients with toileting at the same time as there could be a spread of infection.
A few weeks later, I met up with a few colleagues for a coffee chat. They were talking about the role, and one of them said they would have considered it- at that point many colleagues had asked if I was to apply to this new role and I had denied and wasn’t considering the role at that point in time, I thought maybe someone could do it better, maybe I’m better off sticking to healthcare assistant- turns out if God put something in your heart, it’s for a reason. The 2 others said nah, as it’s paid the same as they are paid now.
I kept quiet- in my head, I was paid at band 2 whilst they are paid at band 3, which means they are paid roughly £1 more per hour.
Then I was seriously considering it- after pondering for so long, even the deadline passed- even to the point of denying to my manager and colleagues that I wasn’t going to apply to this new role.
But the thought of applying kept crossing my mind for some unknown reason, which I didn’t know at the time. I remembered crying out to God, so I thought to myself, could this really be an answer to my prayer? So, I prayed and asked God if I should apply for the new role that had opened up at the hospice. I felt in my spirit that God was saying yes, because this role was made for me. Even with doubts, I chose to trust what I’d heard, so I informed my manager privately that I was interested in the nutritional coordinator procurement role. I asked her if they were still looking for someone. She smiled and said they were conducting interviews and that many people were applying. If I were interested, I could submit an application and my CV. She told me which email to send it to, and sent me the form later that day. A couple of days passed, and I couldn’t sleep. I still hadn’t applied for the new role. The job role was in my head. I kept asking God, "Should I apply or should I leave it? You see, many colleagues had asked me before whether I was interested in the new role, and I had said no. The excuses I gave were as follows:
· I would be bored,
· It’s full-time (I currently work part-time; I’m going to miss my leisure time).
· What if I don’t like this job- what if I’m stuck here with the full-time hours?
To be honest, I did have fear and doubts- doubts thinking what if I don’t get the role and be disappointed- my sister's counterattack was at least, you know. I also feared the success, like what if I miss out on doing my care certificate, but after a long, hard thought, I knew I didn’t want to do/get involved in personal care forever. I don’t want to wipe people’s butt because I know I’m not good with it, plus there’s team dynamics- I will always have to tell them when I’m going to the toilet or my break.
A couple of days passed- my manager said to me: have you submitted your application? I said truthfully, “I didn’t”, I said, “I think I’m going to chicken out.” She said, "Why? You’ll do well in this role?" I said, “I don’t think it’s for me…” The application passed its deadline anyway (back in December). She said that she’s starting the interview on the 15th of January. When I asked my sister, she said I should apply, and I asked God again, " Did you really want me to get this job? Should I apply today?” “Yes” Was the answer, and I left the application for days. Then I was adamant that I wasn’t going to apply and would be disobedient to God, saying maybe there could be another Esther for this role rather than me. So the next time.... I asked God, “God, you said you initially want me to apply for this job. Is it true you want me to apply for this job, and now you don’t want me to apply anymore?”- though the answer was yes to all those questions. So, I gave up applying for a bit.
*Note, you might be thinking how do I know if I heard from God- Well, there are a couple of videos people made about how to hear from God link to the video can be found here (written conversation with God), and click here (for mind conversation with God). Where one guy said to write to God a question and then whatever comes out will be an answer from God, and to trust that’s from him because the spirit is living in you. The second video explained that you don’t have to write; you just speak in your mind, and whatever answer comes first is God speaking to you. Heard it definitely works for non-believers too!
The thought that kept haunting me was the words of my favourite former colleague, who left for Australia- she said, “You should be the head of the nutritional coordinator, as you’re calm under pressure and organised, you’re one of the many that don’t freak out when doing this task”. Even the nurses assigned me the job, and they know I’ll do it without complaining. Many colleagues don’t enjoy being in the kitchen.
Then there was the chef- he said I’m one of the best.
Finally, a colleague who worked asked me if I liked being in the kitchen… the job ad is still up, and many colleagues have complained about when the new role will be filled. So I thought to myself, why is it still up? Surely they would have removed the ad and already filled the role, given that many were interviewed?
So whilst scrolling through different job boards (I’d thought I might as well check other job opportunities if I wanted to escape being a healthcare assistant), I found the role and saw that the deadline had been extended to the 13th of Feb, an extra month, so I made sure to apply and inform the manager.
She then replied that she’s waiting for my application from HR.
Then a few days later, she asked when I’m available for an interview. I stated the days I’m free. Then she said we can do the interview tomorrow, and I said yes.
On the day of the interview, I waited, and before that, I made sure to hand in my artwork for the work exhibition at the local gallery. *Another story I will post on my LinkedIn together about the new role, on why you need good support systems.
Then the supervisor went downstairs in the café and brought me up to the handover room, where they held meetings.
I sat down, and both the supervisor and the manager asked questions from their sheet in front of them.
I think they’ve asked about 15 questions; some were scenario-based, others competency-based.
Such questions as: Why I wanted the job (honestly, I really didn’t know how to answer that question), my experience working in a multidisciplinary team, how I will ensure infection control, etc.
Throughout the interview, both of them reassured me and said that I already had some experience of what the role entailed from my role as a healthcare assistant, and they even skipped one of the questions.
Then, when the interview ended, the manager offered me the job straight away, and I accepted it. She said she’s excited, glad to hire me, and wants me to get this job.
They explained the roles in detail to me.
Then I told my colleagues, and they congratulated me. When I worked my next shift, I told a patient who was a believer, and she commented, saying she was praying for me and “that the reason why no one was hired is that they were waiting just for you- God was waiting for you to apply for the role because he knew you would get it.”
I even told the chef who praised me, and he said he’s happy for me.
Now I can have fixed days off- like I did when working in retail, but with better hours and less workload.
To conclude, I will be starting my new job in mid-March. They changed it- started in the first month of March. With this full-time role, I know I’ll need to make my days worthwhile since I won’t have as much free time as I did working part-time. Still, I’m glad I’ll be able to put this new role on LinkedIn—no longer a healthcare assistant.
Hope this testimony inspires you and encourages you to trust in God- you may be initially worried, but if he wants you to get that role, He will make a way (even if I was about to be disobedient and even worried about not obeying him to the point of not getting sleep and then fighting my fleshly desires/worries about the job).
* I will keep you posted on how my new role went- even many colleagues had asked if I’m excited, and to be honest, I’m not quite sure because I'm still working in the same environment. (Started my first week in the new role, and I must say it’s better for me, plus I get to chill more as the manager’s trying to ease me in). Just know that when you leave your volunteering role or old work role, people will ask you why. How can I tell them I really dislike the role and the people without being judged, even though they feel the opposite?
So below, from the lessons I’ve learnt over the years from changing to different roles and jobs:
5 Telltale signs that you need to move on to another role:
*This applies to both volunteer and paid roles.
1) You no longer feel joy, especially in voluntary roles- you do not have to force yourself to serve others who can and will replace you.
So, the job is taking away your peace (it causes you stress, to the point it affects your mental health and well-being, like sleeping and eating), then this is the sign and the time to consider other options, because…
Toxic people make a toxic place. If you had a horrible experience when starting out in a role whether it’s was in healthcare or retail or other industries (especially working in healthcare like I did and my other colleagues has as well, it messes you up- like I did my best at work especially coming from a person who first never had healthcare experience I was criticized by a lot of people- it wasn’t just negative feedback, it was the people who said it in a way that made me feel like I was pathetic, it reminded me so much of how much the nasty the world is. I had a lot of great positive feedback as well, but the few negative comments lingered in my mind longer and made me more insecure.
*Update as I’m writing this, a new member of staff who had started about 2 months ago had been terminated last week, even though he thought he did well, but because his colleagues reported him to the manager, HR fired him. This just proved how toxic the environment was for me and even more so for another colleague.
2) It’s taking your time away from God- again, especially in voluntary roles- yes, it’s good to do good, but also know that God loves a cheerful giver- we need to learn to do things unto him (something I’m still trying to get a grip on)
Nothing much to add here, just that we need to remember to prioritise our relationship with God, because ultimately, if God says, "I don’t know you, depart from me, you workers of iniquity"-it’s very terrifying to hear. I actually have a perfect life analogy for this- for a separate post. Will have this link once completed.
3) You are not learning or growing in the role- even if they are paying you 50p an hour extra a year, it’s better to have a change of environment- most only stay 2 years max before leaving to another role/company. It’s like what the famous motivator Jim Rohn says, “if you work on the job you make a living, if you work on yourself, you make a fortune.” This is because if you invest in yourself, you can make more than you would in a job- think entrepreneurs!
4) You realise you aren’t a good fit for the company or its culture.
When everyone seems to get along with others- and you’re the odd one out- it can be a very strange feeling, like being an alien that doesn’t belong there- like I had to try very hard to talk to people back when I was working in retail, and it was very difficult to actually build a personal relationship other than just work buddies. If you are quiet like me, trust me, it will benefit you to change environments- now in healthcare (better than working formerly in retail), I’m comfortable saying whatever and even venting out my feelings- something I couldn’t do before because I had little to no one to talk to in retail.
5) The company doesn’t align with your goals/you can’t see yourself working there long-term.
This is self-explanatory, and I would like to add that when I was working in retail, for 2 weeks I realised it wasn’t for me, yet I was stubborn and stayed there for 5 years despite the job leading to my mental breakdown, and I was burnt out, especially when I felt like I couldn’t turn to any colleagues.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray that you lead your people to the job that not only is good for their mental health but also brings you glory- Lord, anything that will add to your kingdom. Lord, there are many unemployed people, as well as those who are considering quitting their jobs. Lord, provide them with hope, be near to them in times of trouble, Lord, hear their groans and cries. Lord, do not let them bear the suffering of a toxic environment that is not only destroying their souls but also their spiritual nature. Lord, may they trust in you and have the faith again to apply for jobs. Lord, do not let them waste their years when they could have better opportunities elsewhere. Lord, we trust you for guidance. Our ultimate hope is in you, Lord. Your people may already have lost all hope of finding a job or of getting a job change. Lord, please instruct them on what they need to do in order to have a great job come to pass. Lord, you say if we ask in your name, you will grant it to us. Lord, please tell your people what they need to do while they wait. Lord, many people are losing hope in finding a job, but Lord, I know what you have done for me; you can do for them. Lord, use my story to inspire your people, though I’m just a mere human... I don’t want others to miss what they could have got only if they persevere and obey you, Lord. Lord, I just want to say, on the reader’s behalf, thank you, Lord, for what you have done so far in their lives, and thank you for the plans you have for us and the future we do not see, but which is installed for us. Lord, may you keep us motivated and have the continued drive to keep following you. Lord, may we never get tempted to be like the world, but more like you, Lord, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Anyways, that’s all for now.
Best wishes,
Humblepickle :)
P.S. Apologies for not posting this sooner on the agreed date (I’ve underestimated how long it will take, and life has ended up dragging me in different directions, currently facing workplace drama- trying to help my former colleague with getting his job back, more on that later if God is pleased for me to mention it).
I’ve got several events next week, so just a heads-up: I might not be able to post on the agreed topic below. I will give it my best shot. I’m still trying to work out the blogger/content creator thing.
I’m writing this after finishing church, and I must say that Church was great- I’ll must upload the sermon- it was about prayer- the guest speaker even prayed for the audience- a must listen!
Defo Future post: I’ll keep my word and try to post more content here on my blog
· If God says, "I don’t know you, depart from me, you workers of iniquity"- my personal perfect life analogy for understanding this verse clearly. Can’t say when I’ll post this- I’ll be breaking a promise again.
· Sermon on prayer from the guest speaker- once the church uploads this, I will reupload it more like an audio-podcast thing-ish with maybe with actual illustrations- could also provide a summary sheet. I will also chip and chop segments that could be interesting to watch for those who are more into short-form content, so they, too, can gain something from it. Can’t say for sure how long this will take me. The bare minimum I could do is just send the link to the video from the church’s website- but, being me (a creative person who likes good stories and talks), I want to add to the sermon even if it’s just a 3-second drawing of the guest speaker.
· On how to discover different churches and know which one is for you, on 12th March? Not sure now if I can actually commit to this deadline- will do this post for sure- have it drafted, just need some edits. Done, you can read about it here (How to Know Which Church Is for You? My Personal Experience: How I Chose Which Church to Consistently Attend).
· How I stay occupied while waiting for my future husband in my Occupy My Time series- Posting that in mid-march? Not quite sure with the initial deadline I have set for myself- usually I like to write a really detailed post with some useful insights, but also provide some sort of examples from my personal life. Will do a post of this next week.
· Keep updated with Focus Mate- when I find a time to book the next session, I still need to make the time for this.
· End of April, I will update you again with the overview of my life- What to expect (content I will cover), how my new role is at the hospice, I’ll also be updating you on my side hustle ideas and how my content creator journey goes, any changes, etc. I have already drafted some updates; I just need to keep monitoring my progress and compile them at the end of April. I actually didn’t realise I did a lot of things, so maybe in the future, rather than waiting 2 months to wait for updates, I'll do it monthly- I’m also considering adding more visuals (like pictures) to each post to add more interesting elements- we’ll see.
Potential future video/post I could do: (if you're interested, please let me know and I'll do my best to cover the content).
Ideas from the previous post:
· Recommended videos to watch that I’ve been watching
· Creative project I’ll be working on
· Could do a bargain haul video
· collected stuff from Olio,
· What I did at London Creative Gals,
· Video: Swaps on Swap-bot haul and the rule
If there’s any content you want to see more of, definitely reach out. I welcome any feedback! 😊
In the meantime, if you haven't done so already, you can...