Grace is the heart of the Christian life. It’s what gives us hope when we fall short. It’s the reminder that God sees who we are becoming, not just who we were.
But what about the rest of the world? What about job applications, background checks, or a quick Google search of your name?
Whether you’re starting over or stepping into a new season of life, your online presence matters. That doesn’t mean your past defines you, but it does mean others might judge it before they get to know your heart.
Here’s why grace, spirituality, and a clean search result go hand in hand, especially when applying for work.
Grace Isn’t Just for Church
Grace is forgiveness, yes, but it’s also forward movement.
We’re all sinners. We’ve all made choices we’re not proud of. But God calls us to something greater. He calls us to live in truth, walk in purpose, and not be chained to our past.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
But while God sees the new you, search engines might still show the old one.
One young man I met had turned his life around after years of addiction. He got clean, got baptized, and started applying for jobs. But every time an employer looked him up, they found an old mugshot and arrest from five years back. He didn’t get callbacks, even with great interviews.
Employers Google You – That’s Just the World We Live In
A 2023 CareerBuilder report found that 71% of employers Google applicants before making a hiring decision. More than half say they’ve rejected someone based on what they found online.
It’s not fair. But it’s real.
If someone sees an old blog post, embarrassing photo, or comment thread from your past, it could cost you the chance to prove who you are now.
This doesn’t mean hiding the truth. It means making sure your online presence reflects who you are today.
Faith Calls Us to Be Good Stewards of Our Name
Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
Your name matters and in today’s world, your name shows up on Google before you walk into the room.
Taking care of your online reputation is part of stewardship. It’s not vanity, it’s wisdom. It helps you walk through the right doors with confidence and clarity.
Just like you clean up your resume or pray before a job interview, you should also clean up your search results.
How to Check What’s Out There
Start simple. Open a private or incognito browser. Search your full name. Add your city, email, or username if needed.
Look through:
- Google search results (first 2 pages)
- Google Images
- Social media profiles
- Old forums or blogs
Write down anything that’s outdated, hurtful, or doesn’t reflect who you are now.
Sometimes it’s a comment you made in college. A social media post that didn’t age well. Or a blog from someone else mentioning your name unfairly.
How to Clean It Up
If you find something that needs to go, here’s what to do:
1. Delete or edit what you can
Start with your own profiles. Remove old tweets, untag yourself in photos, and clean up posts that no longer serve your testimony.
Update your bios and profile pictures. Post something positive that reflects your current values, maybe a verse, a life update, or a short story of redemption.
2. Ask websites to take things down
If someone else posted something about you, reach out and ask them to remove it. Be polite and clear.
Say something like:
“Hi, I noticed my name is mentioned in this post. I’ve since moved on from that season of my life. Would you consider removing it or updating the page?”
People are often more willing than you think, especially if you show grace first.
3. Use Google’s tools if needed
If a link is old, inaccurate, or shows personal information, you can ask Google to hide it from search.
Use this official tool:
Remove Outdated Content
It helps remove link from Google search results without needing the original site to take it down.
This won’t erase your past. But it keeps old wounds from becoming the first thing people see.
What to Post Instead
Once you clean things up, fill the search space with things that show who you are today.
Post blog entries or articles about:
- What you’ve learned
- How faith helped you overcome hard times
- What you’re building now (a business, a ministry, a new life)
- Scripture that’s helped you stay grounded
One woman I know started a blog after leaving an abusive relationship. Her name used to link to court documents. Now, it leads to her writing about healing, forgiveness, and faith. She got a job at a nonprofit six months later and said her blog helped seal the deal.
Trust God – And Take Action
Faith doesn’t mean sitting still. It means walking in trust while taking the next right step.
If your past is still showing up online, don’t ignore it. Don’t assume it won’t matter. Clean it up. Then walk into interviews, meetings, or any new season knowing you’ve done your part.
God will open the right doors – but you have to knock.
Final Thoughts
Grace gives us freedom. Faith gives us direction. Wisdom helps us live in the world while staying true to what matters.
If you’re applying for a job, stepping into leadership, or just starting over, check what your name says online. Clean up what you can. Replace it with something true and strong.
You’re not who you were. You’re who God says you are.
So let your search results say the same.
