He walked around in sort of a blur that day. His head hurt and he wasn’t sure about his immediate future. A lot had changed in just a couple of hours. Co-workers lost their jobs. Some of them were really upset. He was officially unemployed too. It was time to start a money diet. He canceled his Netflix account and called the gym office to tell them he wouldn’t be renewing at the end of the month. No more Starbucks, new clothes, music or eating out until he had a job again.
This kind of thinking went on for a couple of hours before the headache finally overwhelmed him. He wandered from his home-office over to the bathroom, where he cracked open a bottle of Tylenol and proceeded to down three large pills with a glass of water. He grabbed a granola bar and made his way back over to his computer. It was time to make sure that his checkbook was balanced and then adjust his budget. Unemployment didn’t nearly match his previous salary, but would certainly help.
The man had always been a saver and had an emergency stash of several thousand dollars in an account that he never really accessed. It was enough to pay his bills for another nine months if he was careful. Still, what if he didn’t have a job by then? He wouldn’t get one unless he started looking. But he needed to update his resume and his LinkedIn profile first.
After a whole day of worry, change and work, he finally threw himself on the couch. He had put up several safety nets to protect his credit, mortgage and the rest of his bills. He was exhausted, but felt good about things. Then another thought struck- what if he had to move to get a job? He’d have to sell his house, make new friends, find a new church, transfer all sorts of addresses and possibly accounts, and could he afford a house in a different state? Immediately, he was back up and planning.
How often do we rob God
of an opportunity
to heal,
provide,
change and grow us
because we’re taking care of ourselves?
Note: I am getting laid off from my job but the man you just read about isn’t me. I’m definitely a planner, but I’ll tell you right now that I need God to get me a really awesome-fantastic job that I’ll love from the minute I walk in the door. It’s my prayer and if you’re nice, it’ll be yours for me. I’m excited about this season because I think God’s going to shift a lot of things around and I believe the results are going to be fulfilling and life-changing. Probably even legendary.
My friend, I prayed for you before I could finish reading your post. What you have is confidence, but it’s not in you it is in the only thing that counts, our heavenly Father. Although you and I have never met we are family and my heart is with you my brother. God is going to bless you beyond our wildest imagination.
Thank you for sharing your life with us. It is a blessing for all of us in God’s family.
Floyd, I’m mostly confident. Every now and again, it slips just a bit, but I’m excited to see what happens. I really think this whole situation was initiated by God–at least for me, I’m sure some of my co-workers might disagree. I’ll keep everyone posted on what happens. I’m still employed through the end of the month, which is nice. I’m super grateful for that because it’s giving me time to look…. yay!
“How often do we rob God of an opportunity to heal, provide, change and grow us because we’re taking care of ourselves?”
Boom. Love that!
Justin! I haven’t seen your face around in what feels like forever! Glad you stopped by, but where the crap did you go?
I know those feelings all too well. I went through the “money diet” when I was laid off in December 2008 – cut down my cable, stopped my monthly contribution into my Roth IRA, downsized my food budget and quit eating out, going to movies and doing anything fun. Unemployment definitely didn’t cover my expenses, and God showed up in numerous ways to help provide for me. It’s been a very tough, but very miracilous season.
Now I’m just living off the money I make at a PT job, the money I get from my housemate and the money my mom sends to help cover health insurance…about $1200 a month. And although I don’t have the money to really do anything, most of my bills are still being paid (had to defer my student loan).
You will be ok. God will provide. You will have to make sacrifices, but take it from someone who has been unemployed and under-employed for over 2 years: He will take care of you.
I will definitely be praying!
Jason, I’m glad to hear from someone who’s been there, it’s definitely reassuring! I have to say that I’m beyond excited for the transition. I’ve been at a good place, but my passions are elsewhere, so we’ll see what happens!
I hope that WR is this to you – “I need God to get me a really awesome-fantastic job that I’ll love from the minute I walk in the door”. It’s awesome to have you on board!!
It is! I feel like I’m definitely trying to make a difference and I’m working with people, which is all I really want. Let’s just hope I get better at landing them jobs:) but everyone is great to work with, it has been lots of fun!!