Advice For Those Who Are Unemployed: There Is Hope!

 Please don't get the wrong idea my co-worker does as little work as possible.  When the Ministry Administrator is not around she spends most of her time running personal errands or talking on the phone (personal calls).  She will strike up conversations with the boss an 1/2 hour before we leave daily and sit and just talk about what movies she has or something similar.   Since she is in charge of the books even if she misses she gets paid, I tried to bring it to his attention but he automatically assumes it's envy or jealousy.

The bottom line is, I will be unemployed in a few weeks with no unemployment or benefits.  It’s hard enough to find a job these days for young people let alone a woman who is 56 years old.  Please pray for me and I would appreciate any advice you may have. (email condensed)

Answer
I can tell you I know how you feel.   This has happened to me more than once in my life…without notice!  But I realized two things....One, when God saved me He left me here on the earth for a reason.  If there weren’t He would have taken me that day. 

So what is His plan for my life (and yours)?  Well, He wants me (and you) to be a witness and to tell others about Christ.  He also wants to conform us to the image of His Son Jesus.  That takes time and many times pain.  Truthfully, those are His only real goals for us.   

Unfortunately, many of today’s TV preachers would lead you to believe that God’s plan for your life is to live in luxury and reap the blessings of God, and to an extent, we have.  But that’s not His plan for you.  He wants you to be more like Him, spread the Gospel and be a witness to those around you.  That’s more important than any earthly empire you could possibly build.

Two, take a look at Matthew 6:25-30.  If God has left you here to do a job for Him then He will supply your needs.  That's His promise to you.   Read what this passage has to say.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  (KJV)

I can tell you this, God allowed this to happen because He wants to do a work in your life.  I can’t tell you what it will be, but it will be for your good over the long run. 

So despite how you feel forgive those whom you are angry with and tell the Lord that your life is in His hands, and then ask Him to direct it in the direction He wants you to go.   

Continue to be faithful, to witness, to attend and participate in ministry, and to tithe.  These are all duties that God has given us.  He will come through in the end.   

Also, start looking for a new job immediately and go down to the unemployment office and sign up for benefits.  Personally, I wouldn't believe any employer to tell me that there are no unemployment benefits; I would have to see for myself. 

I hope this has helped you.