This episode of ‘A Few Minutes with God’ explores how Christians view vocation and purpose. In a recent NBC Gen Z poll, the findings showed how different men and women look at the world. No wonder so many people are depressed. In this episode, we explore ways to incorporate a faith-driven approach to balance family, work, and purpose. Whether you’re wrestling with career pressures or family goals, discover how God’s plan brings peace.

Typically, I don’t approach news trends, but this one struck a chord. The saying that men and women are different is highlighted along with the political divide. If you want to dive into the exact poll and its findings, we won’t cover them here, but what we will cover is the solution that is uncovered in Christian, and especially Catholic, beliefs.

How the NBC Poll Highlights Gen Z’s Divide on Success

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus is an old book, yet that caption could not be more real, as evidenced by the poll results in a nutshell. Without getting into the politics, the NBC News Decision Desk Poll (August 2025) shows that Gen Z (13-28 year olds) are split in their vision of a successful life. For young conservative men,  getting married, a good family and “having children” is their top priority, while more liberal women prioritize “fulfilling work” and “emotional stability,” with only 6% valuing family. Both cite economic pressures, with 40% of Gen Z naming inflation as their top concern. This gender and political divide reflects a broader cultural question. And it is not a new one.

Can family, career, and inner peace coexist? Catholic teaching on vocation offers a timeless answer, guiding young adults to live counterculturally through faith. In fact, this is true for all Bible-believers if they believe and hold dear the Word of God. My Christian friends are often closely aligned with the same ideals and values that I hold as a Catholic.

What is more important than family? Well, God, of course. The Lord should be first and foremost the center of our lives. However, some of these young people have it so wrong.

Vocation is God’s call to holiness through love and service, not just a career choice. How do we serve others before ourselves? This is a countercultural idea. We as parents serve our children and our extended families. Most of this service is self-giving. The Bible is clear, faith and family are important. Having a special vocation and calling is a gift from God.

The Bible is clear, we’ve been created for a purpose, and you are not an accident.  Genesis 1:27–28  (Read on air). 

Matthew 6:33 (Read on air.)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1603, 1877) emphasizes this aspect of family life. The family is a “domestic church” (a community of love). When we work as God intended within our families, we participate in God’s plan for our lives. And what’s more is that every person has a universal call to love God and others, lived out through marriage, single life, or service.

What does all of this have to do with the poll? The survey shows that men value family, while women seek work and stability. Our vocation unites these as sacred paths when rooted in faith.

The Catholic perspective is that work has dignity (Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II). This is reflected by the grace that God gave us, and the God given ability. How do we use it? It can be any role, from parenting to professional work, whether it is white-collar or blue-collar, or anything in between. What does this mean for us? It shows us that our family and relationships take precedence over “hustle culture” or self-focused goals, guided by faith.

Every person has the choice to show up at work or at home. Professionals can strike a balance between work and time for loved ones. Parents can find purpose and joy within the home despite economic strain. Many of us chose to have a single-income household because we prioritized family over income.

Faith offers a countercultural path to fulfillment beyond the pressures of society. Living this way means trusting God’s plan over temporary cultural trends.

Even if you are not in the category of Gen Z we can still ask the Lord to lead us daily and guide us. What is our purpose today, or this week? Often, we float through life without giving any thought to what God wants for us. And, truthfully, we may be afraid to ask!

• Pray Daily: Ask God, “What’s my purpose?” through simple gratitude prayers to find clarity.

• Be thankful! No matter what happens each and every day, we thank God even when we are not thankful. Choose to be thankful and soon you will see that whether we are or not, it will change our outlook on life.

• Use Your Talents: What gifts do you have? If you have a specific gift or calling use it! Apply these skills, for example helping your neighbor, friend, or church. Creating and leading a Bible study. Serving others even from home. If you pray to God and ask Him to use you, offers will come finding you! Each of us wants to be wanted and needed in some capacity and we want to do worthwhile and fulfilling things. When you work for the Kingdom of God, it is very rewarding!

• Build Faith-Based Community: Connect with friends or parish groups for support. When I was asked by our local pastor to help with the Pre-Cana, or marriage prep, I agreed. My husband and I meet with couples at our home and work through their needs, addressing some difficult questions as they arise before marriage. In this way, it allows us to act as mentors, and it is fulfilling to both of us because we can work together in this ministry, sharing the knowledge we have gained over our 46 years together.

• Offer Your Work: Dedicate daily tasks to God as acts of love. Try it and again it will change you! God doesn’t need anything from us but we need him. When we dedicate our tasks, our work, and even those chores we don’t want to do to our Lord, it is a great blessing. It transforms routine into purpose. We are basically grounding our lives into God’s call.

Finding Your God-Given Purpose in a Chaotic World

Finding Hope

Power Focused Prayer

Fruits of Faith

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