If you’ve ever lost a job, you know what an unexpected grief it is. The income loss alone, along with the ego bruise, the colleague-relationship disruption, and the shocking disequilibrium of it all - 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 promises you can cling to in the midst of this trial or another unexpected change:
- God is protecting you and inviting you into new character formation. As James 1: 2, 12 says, “Count it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know 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 who 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 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.’”
- You have space to dream again – God can do immeasurably more than you can imagine in this trial. Ephesians 3:20 declares, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!”
- You might be up some nights ruminating with anxiety about the future. But you can 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 daily. 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 for your spiritual growth and formation. Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things, God works for the good of those who love him.”
If you are walking through an unexpected, disappointing transition of any kind, here are a few things you can do.
- Acknowledge your feelings. Express the anger, sadness, grief (it is grief), and disappointment to God and to save people. Don’t rush to solve or fix it. Sit in the mess. You will move forward with greater resilience if you take some time with your pain. (I realize you can’t take a lot of time when you need to do a job search. But give yourself a bit of sacred space and care.)
- Retrain your brain. You are valuable, worthy, and capable. When any lies related to shame, not enoughness, or failure creep in, stop them in their tracks and replace them with truer thoughts, “I am learning as I go. I will not let this defeat me. I am worthy of a best yes.”
- Dream about your Next. What can you do now that you have to forge a new way forward? What God might be inviting you into?
- Trust God. Reflect on Psalm 30, the Message version, where David says, “I give you 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 provide and lead.
I say this all the time, and I mean it: every rejection is divine redirection.
May you learn to grieve and accept your new realities, as surprising or shocking as they are, while having faith that God has this (and you) in his steady hands.
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