My friend is finding it a challenge to minister in her workplace.
Her boss seems to be particularly difficult and she wants to quit.
However, I feel that The Lord still wants her there.
She really is struggling to love on these people. How can I encourage her and lift her enthusiasm?
I've been on jobs where everyone was a committed christian, and making a positive statement of faith becomes kind of meaningless after a while.
God currently has me working directly with 5 atheists. I unknowingly moved into this from a job where about 3/4 of the people were christian, and the 1/4 that weren't definitely didn't make an anti-christian stand.
Your friend needs strong fellowship in the Lord. If I were talking to her in person, I would encourage her to seek the Lord in prayer for these people on a constant basis, and ask God's guidance on what she can do to meet their needs.
Jesus made a point to eat with the publicans and sinners. In other words, he socialized with them! We believers tend to shun the unbelievers in our lives, and I think that's in part because we are rightfully concerned about some of the wrong behavior rubbing off on us. That is as much a matter of staying strong in your church and bible study and prayer as it is anything else, though.
I've been in the place of the atheist. At the time, I would totally reject Christians that preached at me. But if someone was concerned because I was sick, or helped me with a trial I was going through, or simply enjoyed spending time with me at lunch, they got serious credit in my book and I'd pay attention to them. I think many times it's more effective to share the love of the lord through simple social skills than it is preaching at people.
I'll pray for you and your friend, sister.
