As I look at what is going on in the world around me, I have to keep it in perspective. What is really important? What does God want for us?
Being in a non-profit where our focus is preventing homelessness by helping people find jobs, we see so much pain. Job loss is devastating to individuals and families. I read somewhere that people find their sense of self in their jobs. When you lose your job, you not only lose that sense of self, but community and security as well. When you lose your job, you go through all of the same stages of grief as any other loss. According to the numbers 95.6% of the people in Central Florida have jobs, but there are still many without jobs.
When my husband lost his job many years ago, I wondered why God allowed it to happen. I did not blame God, but I was at a loss. We went through all the stages of panic and grief. We thought the job search would be easier and take less time. We realized the importance of education and persistence. I also learned how to downsize our lives, how to rely more on God, and how to relate to people who are going through what we experienced.
God teaches us to rely fully on him. We tend to think that we can do it on our own. He has told us that He will never leave or forsake us, but we tend to leave Him.
If you are going through job loss, crisis, or something that is bigger than you. Surrender yourself to Him today. Pray about what your next steps should be. Ask Him what He is trying to teach you. Ask God to take care of your needs daily like He did with the Israelites when He sent manna down. Take your eyes off the material things and spend time in His word.
If you are not part of a church community, look for one that is healthy and well balanced. If they welcome you with open arms and pray with you and for you, you can identify with a community and not just a job. My prayers reach out to all the people who are going through a job loss or crisis, or just wondering what to do next. Grow closer to God and He will grow closer to you.
