Writer Maxine Harrison reflects on Yvonne Orji’s bold Christian faith and her honest journey of separating work from worth after Insecure came to an end. Through Orji’s recent reflections, the piece explores rest, identity, and finding value in Christ rather than career.
Yvonne Orji has long been vocal about her Christian faith since entering the Hollywood industry through her role as Molly in the award-winning show Insecure. From her book Bamboozled by Jesus to her openness about remaining a virgin, she is unapologetic about her faith in God while working in a very secular industry.
However, in a recent episode of Christian comedian Kev On Stage’s Not My Best Moment podcast, Orji candidly shared how, after the show ended, she had to grapple with a season of having less work.
In the episode, she says: “It was season five of Insecure. It was 2021… and I remember feeling helpless
In the episode, she says: “It was season five of Insecure. It was 2021… and I remember feeling helpless. Insecure was about to end. We were in the pandemic. This is the show that has basically been the biggest God-gift in my life. I got my Emmy [nomination] from it. I get invited into rooms because of it, and now it’s coming to an end. And I had nothing lined up,” the 42-year-old details. She continues: “I remember God saying, ‘If you do not learn to separate your work from your worth, you will be depressed.’”
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She went on to share that she told God that the minute she became a depressed comedian, he should “take her out of the game.” As part of her journey to rediscover herself, separate from her work and perceived worth, the author embarked on a season of solo travel.
In the interview, Yvonne touches on an issue that feels particularly prevalent in capitalist society, where constant hustling is often viewed as virtuous and, in some cases, the standard. Biblically, however, there is a clear theology of rest that God intended for his creation. God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. Jewish communities uphold the Sabbath to honour rest, and likewise, all of creation is invited to rest and recharge so that when we return to work, we do so in obedience to the Lord.
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After gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of rest, Yvonne is now known among her friends as the one who checks in on them during busy seasons.
After gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of rest, Yvonne is now known among her friends as the one who checks in on them during busy seasons. “Everyone could be like, ‘You’ve got this going on… and the billboards [etc.],’” she says. “I’ll send a text and be like, ‘You resting?’ ‘How you doing?’ Because all of that is great, but that costs something—your time, your mental health.”
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In a season when the UK is experiencing high unemployment, learning to decentre work from our sense of worth is incredibly important. With recent unemployment figures at 5.1%, many people searching for work may struggle to find a sense of purpose. However, the Bible is clear that our identity is found in Christ alone (Galatians 2:20). On the cross, he purchased us, showing that we were worth dying for. This means he assigns us more value than any job ever could. John 15:13 states: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
So, while there may be trying seasons when work feels slow (as a freelancer, I can resonate deeply with this), our employment status should never determine our sense of self-worth. That worth comes from the Creator, not from creation.
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