This situation is not new to me as I have trod this path some years ago, fresh out of college and my first child (Loan Bureau) was really demanding of me to give it some attention....and whoosp its back!
But, lately i read an article on boundless.org-Still praying in the wilderness and it speaks to me. No matter how hard it will get and will get hard and seem hopeless, God doesn't leave us in the wilderness forever. When i read that i was relieved....i knew that....I go to church and I read my Bible, I listen to sermons preached that God will make a way....but yet i still had a doubt in the back of my mind.
The first month was ok, i interacted with my friends and family and I was so enthused, geared up that some rain will come my way. I even spoke to my Father above making a request that I don't want this wilderness to last no later than May.....now we are in May and self pity is creeping in . But the second month was a month of disappointments.....but i have cremated not embalmed those disappointments. I am not going to anxious about anything from now on.......(why am I not putting what the Bible says about not being anxious in practice.....)
However, I have friends, family and my special person in my life as my major cheerleaders cheering me on that things will get better. So coincidentally, i'm here preparing a script for a church play this week -Standing the Midst of Crisis- and i stumbled upon this article
"Dealing with Job loss as a Christian" which gives some advice that I knew all a long and failed to do:
How do we keep a good perspective while dealing with job loss?
- Help the needy - Often we get caught up in our own trials and we forget the misfortunes of others. One way to lighten the blow of job loss is to focus on the less fortunate.
- Spend time in prayer and Bible study - This is a great approach to staying true to your Christian values in times of need. Relying on the Holy Spirit to provide for you can renew your soul, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16). Listen for God's direction. He will direct your steps.
- Give to others - It often seems ludicrous to give when you are in need, but God blesses a sacrificial giver. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38)
- Spend time with your family - Renewing relationship will give you a sense of connection and peace.
- Attend church regularly - Fellowshipping with other believers keeps us optimistic. You might just make a contact too!
- Be proactive in searching for another job.
- Take joy and rejoice in the Lord.
- Let me add my one ......encourage myself that this will not last ....rain will come.
Mark you, I am doing ALL these things but SELF PITY just keeps gearing its ugly head...which makes me feel like the odd girl among my friends. WHy? i hate when I go to settings and the first thing people ask you is :What do you do for a living? I just shrink in my soles of my feet and please don't ask me......but it comes up.
It seems that much of our worth is wrapped up in the work we do. Our job becomes our identity - who we are. What we do becomes what we value! When we lose a job or are faced with a career change, we often feel we've lost our worth.
But i will no more succumb to SELF PITY, I will be going out more and regroup myself and work on it .....
When I'm down, I read Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
