If you’ve ever lost a job, what an unexpected grief it’s. The income loss alone, together with the ego bruise, the colleague-relationship disruption, and the shocking disequilibrium of all of it – well, it rends the soul a bit. You might move from sad and scared to wanting to smash plates and back again. But there are some unexpected gifts and guarantees you may cling to within the midst of this trial or one other unexpected change:
- God is protecting you and welcoming you into recent character formation. As James 1: 2, 12 says, “Count it pure joy, my brothers and sisters every time you face trials of many kinds, because that the testing of your faith produces perseverance…Blessed is the one who persevered under trial because, having stood the test that person will receive thee crown of life that the Lord has promised to those that love him.”
- God has you ready for a brighter future. This will put you on a much clearer path in your calling. As Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I do know the plans I even have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and never to harm you, plans to provide you hope and a future.’”
- You have space to dream again – God can do immeasurably greater than you may imagine on this trial. Ephesians 3:20 declares, “Now to him who’s capable of do immeasurably greater than we will ask or imagine, in accordance with his power that’s at work inside us, to him be glory in church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, endlessly and ever! Amen!”
- You may be up some nights ruminating with anxiety in regards to the future. But you may know God is in it. You can trust God explicitly. You are being invited to take every anxious thought to Jesus, trust him wholeheartedly, and lean on the Spirit every day. Philippians 4: 6 instructs us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
- This can draw you closer to God’s presence. God can use this job loss on your spiritual growth and formation. Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things, God works for the nice of those that love him.”
If you might be walking through an unexpected, disappointing transition of any kind, listed here are just a few things you may do.
- Acknowledge your feelings. Express the anger, sadness, grief (it is grief), and disappointment to God and to save lots of people. Don’t rush to unravel or fix it. Sit within the mess. You will move forward with greater resilience for those who take a while together with your pain. (I realize you may’t take loads of time when it’s essential to do a job search. But give yourself a little bit of sacred space and care.)
- Retrain your brain. You are worthwhile, worthy, and capable. When any lies related to shame, not enoughness, or failure creep in, stop them of their tracks and replace them with truer thoughts, “I’m learning as I’m going. I is not going to let this defeat me. I’m worthy of a best yes.”
- Dream about your Next. What are you able to do now that you have got to forge a recent way forward? What God may be inviting you into?
- Trust God. Reflect on Psalm 30, the Message version, where David says, “I provide you with the credit. You got me out of that mess, God.” Choose faith that God’s got this; God’s got you. You can trust him to supply and lead.
I say this on a regular basis, and I mean it: every rejection is divine redirection.
May you learn to grieve and accept your recent realities, as surprising or shocking as they’re, while having faith that God has this (and also you) in his regular hands.
Photo Credit: b_parker from Getty Images Signature via Canva Pro
