Gen Z isn’t lazy. They’re just not willing to build a life that costs them their soul. What if uncertainty isn’t a weakness but an invitation to hear God's voice?

The Bigger Questions Behind Career Decisions

Talk to most Gen Z young adults about their future, and you’ll find that the conversation isn’t really about jobs. It’s about identity, purpose, and the kind of life they want to live. For many, choosing a career feels less like picking a profession and more like making a declaration about who they are becoming.

They want more than a job description. They want a life that aligns with their values.

In a global survey of more than 23,000 Gen Zs and millennials, meaningful work, opportunities to grow, and personal well-being consistently ranked alongside income as key priorities in choosing a career path. They’re not running from work. They’re running from empty work.

They’re asking, “What does this cost me in terms of my mental, emotional, and spiritual health?” And more often than not, they’re willing to give up prestige or pay if it means gaining a sense of peace.

Purpose Is No Longer Optional

In a time when external success is often confused with internal satisfaction, Gen Z is pulling back and asking deeper questions. They’ve seen the toll that burnout, anxiety, and overwork have taken on the adults around them. They’re not eager to replicate it.

Recent data shows that nearly 90 percent of Gen Z say that purpose at work matters to them. For them, purpose isn’t a bonus. It’s the foundation. If work doesn’t connect with something deeper, it begins to feel hollow.

They want to make a difference. They want to grow. They want to feel like their presence matters. And for many of them, that longing is spiritual at its core.

They are less interested in climbing ladders and more interested in building something that lasts. This is a generation that would rather earn less doing meaningful work than achieve status in a role that drains them.

Navigating an Uncertain Work Landscape

At the same time, the world they’re entering is complicated. The old structures don’t offer the same guarantees. Many Gen Z workers are switching jobs every 18 to 24 months. Some are juggling side hustles while trying to stay grounded financially. They’re adapting, staying agile, and trying to make it all fit.

That reality can look like instability, but it may actually be something else: discernment. They’re experimenting. They’re learning by trying. They’re finding out what doesn’t work, and with each step, they’re slowly discovering what does.

Some have called it career minimalism. Others have labeled it job-hopping. But for many young adults, this is what it looks like to search for a life that aligns with their calling.

What This Looks Like Up Close

We’ve seen this play out in real time with the students we’ve walked alongside.

Some are weighing the value of college against the burden of debt. Others are taking online classes while exploring creative skills like writing, photography, or design. Some are testing their gifts through internships in social media, marketing, or entrepreneurship. And a few are still waiting quietly, unsure of what comes next, but certain they want to walk with God as they figure it out.

What unites them is not their direction but their desire. They want lives that feel integrated. They want to follow Jesus not just in their devotional life, but in the way they choose work, relationships, rest, and responsibility.

They are not aimless. They are paying attention.

Why Community Is Crucial

In a culture that tells us to find our own way, Gen Z is rediscovering something ancient. They are learning that calling is rarely discerned alone.

Some of the most transformational moments we’ve seen happen not in moments of clarity, but in community. Around tables. In worship. Through honest conversations and patient questions.

We’ve seen students wrestle together with questions like:

• How do I know what I’m called to?

• What if I get it wrong?

• How do I know if I’m wired for behind-the-scenes work or public leadership?

• What if I’m not sure I’m hearing God clearly?

These are not quick questions with easy answers. But in the right environment, we’ve seen the anxiety begin to lift. When someone says, “Me too,” it changes everything.

And slowly, courage begins to grow.

We saw this recently during Week 1 of our time with students. If you want to see what that looked like, you can watch it here:

👉 Journey School Training Camp Week 1

How Leadership Begins

Some students begin this journey thinking leadership looks like a title or a position. But over time, that idea begins to shift. They learn that leadership is more about responsibility than recognition.

They lead when they take ownership of their growth. They lead when they speak with honesty. They lead when they serve others without being asked. They lead when they show up, even when they feel unsure.

These aren’t glamorous moments, but they’re real. And they build something solid over time.

What Parents and Mentors Need to Understand

Parents, if your child feels lost right now, that doesn’t mean they are failing. It may mean they’re waking up.

This generation is paying attention to what matters. They’re noticing what feels off. They’re asking whether the life they’re building will hold up five, ten, or twenty years down the road.

And they need you to believe that their questions are holy.

They need room to wonder, to wait, and to walk slowly.

They need mentors who will guide rather than rush.

They need a church that listens.

And most of all, they need to know that uncertainty is not a detour from God’s will. It’s often where He meets us most clearly.

The Invitation of This Moment

Gen Z is not abandoning work. They are redefining it. They are asking whether their faith fits in every part of life. And they are learning to say no to a version of success that costs them their peace.

This is not rebellion. It’s reflection. They are seeking alignment. And they are willing to take the time to find it.

That kind of formation cannot be microwaved. It takes presence. It takes prayer. It takes community.

Let’s not rush them toward outcomes. Let’s walk with them as they become the kind of people who can steward calling with courage and clarity. And let’s remember — that kind of formation isn’t just for the next generation. It’s for all of us.