Establish Your Heart: Lessons at Work

I have been reflecting a lot on this question as I enter the final weeks of the Pittsburgh Fellows. I came into my job placement at PGT Trucking with a heart full of anticipation, eager to get things "right", and energized by a posture of curiosity towards the work ahead of me. I am finishing my fellowship year excited by my growth in knowledge about the trucking industry, proud of the project I shaped, and thrilled to start my full-time job at PGT Trucking.

A passage in James 5 has been really formative in thinking about my work.

"Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door." James 5:7-9

I am struck by the imagery in this passage. Farming takes care, diligence, and time...growing a crop does not happen in a week. Similarly, work worth pursuing consists of focus and patience, which matter deeply to the success of the whole. Those details are not wasted; they are integral to the growth of the crop. Work isn't always flashy, and one of the most meaningful things I've discovered this year is the beauty in the steady, faithful effort of showing up every day. Over time, I grew comfortable in my role, became adept at the tasks asked of me, and settled well into my place as a teammate. James says, "Establish your hearts." This is a call to pace myself and my emotions — to not let impatience or feelings dominate how I speak and act. This year has beautifully reinforced that growth takes sustained time, and I've come to deeply appreciate that truth.

I have been learning that I am called to serve the Lord by doing the work in front of me faithfully. I am reminded of the end of the Anglican Sunday Liturgy: "And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."

Nine months is a wonderfully short amount of time! I am excited about becoming more established in my office, in my work, and in the new responsibilities I am taking on. There is so much good ahead, and I cannot wait to see how God continues to shape me as I faithfully work for his glory.

-Written by Liana Cornelius, Class of 2026

Liana attended Wheaton College and works at PGT Trucking as a Pittsburgh Fellow.