Unemployed

How many times have you prayed a prayer like…

“Dear God, please help me find a job, Amen”

…but your circumstances do not appear to be improving. Being unemployed, completing countless prospective job application forms with little or no response at all, visiting the job centre, meeting others in a similar position does not boost your morale, self esteem or confidence. Not having any plans, purposes or vision can appear a completely hopeless and a soul destroying experience. Learning to maintain a positive mental attitude despite your present circumstances and a belief in God’s truth is the key to success. Each day can appear an uphill battle but the real choice is whether you will get up and fight or quit and roll over.

We do not know the circumstances or reasons that brought about your unemployment, but God says in His Word:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

It is part of God’s original design that you work:

“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” Genesis 2:15 (NLT)

There is also a stern warning for those that are lazy or are unwilling to work:

“Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. ” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NLT)

The following ‘unemployed’ acronym provides a practical guide to helping you stay motivated until God provides that perfect job for you…

Unity

Nature

Exercise & Diet

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT).

Make – The most of every opportunity. You might have the opportunity for further training, the chance of a holiday of a lifetime or a coincidental encounter with someone. Do not let a rare or unusual opportunities pass you by.
Pray – Time in prayer is never wasted. Remember the acronym PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT)”

“Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:5-13 (New Living Translation

Love – Is a powerful motivator.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important, Love your neighbour as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (NLT).

Try worshipping and praising God by playing a musical instrument or singing along to your favourite Christian music. Start to get to know God by reading and meditating on is His Word. Try fasting or setting aside a time of silence.
Don’t hesitate to perform random acts of kindness for people. Whether it’s just smiling and saying hello, opening a door for someone, allowing someone to go ahead of you in the queue, mowing a lawn or removing someone’s drive full of snow. It will really bless someone and give you a great feel good factor.
Optimistic – Always maintain a positive mental attitude. This can only be achieved by spending time praying or reading God’s Word. Maybe God has blessed you with more time so you can spend more with Him. Unemployment or change is not a curse. Your life is just taking a new direction. If you are unable to change your circumstances maybe it’s time to change your attitude.
You- Are valuable to God. In the film Batman Begins Bruce Wayne says ‘It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.’ This statement is a distortion of the truth. It would have been better to say “It’s not what I do, but who I am that defines me.”

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

Enlist – Volunteer your time to your local church or worthy charitable cause. You never know what doors of opportunity this might lead to.
Discipline – Structure your day by setting yourself achievable goals. Do not get into the bad habit of staying up late and getting up late.

When you have done all of the above sometimes it ultimately comes down to learning to trust God in every situation. The following ‘trust’ acronym might prove useful for you…

Time

Read

Unceasingly

Surrender

Temperance

God wants to change your cultural mindset from a state and self dependency to a wholly dependency upon Him.

Recommended reading:
Rollercoaster of Unemployment by Sarah Hupp