When I moved out the first time, I lost my job.  It was a feeling I cannot describe to you.  The season was low, so they cut all my hours at once, and I couldn't do anything/ had some issues. 

I'll always have to have a job, I think, even if I end up pumping sewage or something nasty, nobody wants to do.  

i think you find out a lot about yourself during unemployment - the uncertainty of who you are, what you're worth, etc. 

but you say it best - in God's eyes, you have so much value and potential...

we often forget this and fill ourselves with other things - like a title, status, money, or fame...all things that will never satisfy us in the end.

This is a timely post.  I stumbled on this and had to chuckle.  I am currently unemployed, sorta by choice.  In an attempt to not bore you with the details of my drama, I will say I kinda "went on strike" from a teaching postion in hopes of making more money.  It obviously didn't turn out as planned by me.  I am the one that didn't sign the contract, yet, I feel I have been "fired" from my job.  I sit here confused and bored, a little scared, a lot bitter.  I have a lot to let the Lord work through this year.  The dessert hurts.  I pray I can shut my mouth and open my heart to the Lord during this time of rest.  Thanks for the encouragement.

The same thing happened to us last year.  My hubby lost his job, and went without pay for 3 weeks, and yet all our bills were paid and we could afford food.  We were really shown that it is God that provides for us.  Then my hubby was able to find a much better job which has been a huge blessing for us, and it never would have happened if he wasn't let go.

I've just left a job rather abruptly. It's frightening, but a little exhilarating too. I know I made the right choice, and whatever comes next, well... I'll leave it in God's hands and let my resume speak for itself.

That was very encouraging. Like you, I was found lacking and let go from my last full-time gig, and although that was over eighteen months ago (my, how time passes), God has provided for me every step - and month of the way.
It's pretty difficult to remember that Someone (God) still finds you worthy and worth something, even after rejection after rejection. Still, He is faithful to His own.

I was out of work for nearly a year.  God was telling me something:  MOVE.   I didn't want to move, I was among the most wonderful body of believers I'd ever been around.   But every job I tried to get...I actually got 2 job, but the mysteriously fell through.  It wasn't a mystery at all, God closed every door I tried to open.   When I moved where God wanted me I got a job with the first company that interviewed me.  

It's taken me a long time to recover from the confusion I've felt over being forced to move.   I still don't know what good has come from the whole thing.   It takes a few years sometimes to see what God has done.    Though I don't know why, I have enough understanding to know God has His reasons for doing what He does.

BP 

At a school where it feels like your value is based upon what job or internship you can land, it's really hard for me to have a peace of mind. In fact, with the job fair in less than a day, I'm more anxious than ever. But the reminder is AWESOME . God provides and God has a plan. I shouldn't be worried about what people think of me as long as i put my faith in God. But I do ask for prayers, because I struggle and worry about my job prospects. With the guidance of God, I will find out what I want to do and what God wills me to do . 

Yep.

Amazing, isn't it?

Namaste!

We're in this boat right now. My husband has been doing one day at a time things since July (working on nearly three months now) and worked contract IT before that since we returned to my home town after his layoff in Dallas.

It was a struggle, but until this past Friday I was working a contract position (another in a string of short-term and contract things that didn't work out for whatever reason.) I was let go on Friday with zero warning, although not entirely unexpected.

We're both applying for everything we can find, and trying to remain positive, but I know my husband is depressed and feeling like he's not providing for the family in the way he ought. My heart goes to him, and I am trying to be supportive, but coupled with the fact he's not a believer, it's just harder on him. I have faith that God will bring us through, and have spent time studying and praying and trying to lay this at God's feet and just continue moving forward with a heart grateful for what we have, but it can be difficult at best.

I know God will provide, and we won't be destitute. But it's so hard to watch him struggle with contract after contract, and now week after week after week with nothing. I wish I could give him the thing he needs to get through, but that's something he has to find for himself.

This is something that I have a tenderheart for, too.  The people who are losing jobs, and don't have a relationship with God.  I have been without a permanent job since April 2004, and it's been an interesting adventure. 

I broke my arm in Aug 2005, and had no insurance.  But my unemployment benefits were too high to give me any welfare assistance, since I was single.  O well...now I  have bills and a crooked wrist to show for it.  Does that make me feel like a neglected child of the King?  Not a bit!  It has been an adventure, and I still got better medical care than the folks in New Orleans at the same time (right during Katrina).

I've had temp jobs that kept my car repaired, my immediate bills paid (cell phone, housing, necessary utilities, etc.), and helped me take three vacations I wouldn't have given myself permission to go on if it wasn't so clear that God wanted me to take them.

I had some times when I was at the food pantry, and when I was nearly going to have to live in my car - I won't omit that.  But I still feel that my friends, family and acquaintances have seen my situation as a testimony that is holding up under scrutiny.  For that, I thank God.  Cause I needed to know I could do that.

I pray that all of the rest of us unemployed folks keep remembering what you brought up: that God IS in control, and He is the provider of anything we have.  It won't be any trend that will determine if you are hired soon or not, either; so  we need to stop being so watchful of them (yeah, it's hard, I know).

Actually last year the very same happened to me. I lost my job (do not wanna go into details why and how, but it is enough to say that cannot entirely blame myself for it) and it greatly affected my self esteem, i felt betrayed and abused by backstabbers. The day i walked out of the office for the last time, i vowed to myself that i wont let the whole thing let me down and i would find somewhere else soon. I forced myself to be optimistic and I totally surrendered myself to God's will and I asked him to help me, and at the same time i exercised self-scrutinity as well, as i felt i had to deal with some issues within myself first. God had shown me so much about myself and revealed so much about Himself during that period. I believe i experienced a miracle as i got another job offer within 3 working days, attended 4 interviews the same week, got 3 other offers and at the end, i only had to make a choice where i wanted to work next. It took me only a week to find a new job. I still work for the same company, and I praise God for it as i like this job a lot better and the conditions and the people are much better, too.

I do feel we are judged based on our achievements at work, and also at school; fancy job titles and status symbols seem to be  very important. I try not to judge people on their academic achievements or what kind of position they hold at a company; we are all equally important and valuable people, regardless of whether you are "just" a cleaner or the managing director.