How To Cope With Your Job Loss

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34

For some, the pain comes as soon as you open your eyes in the morning. Your feet haven’t even hit the floor before that dreaded weight of depression and fear engulfs your heart  For others, you push through your morning ritual, only to find yourself facing another day lacking vision, purpose, and meaning. You have no excitement, no anticipation, and no sense of adventure. You may find yourself staring at the wall because you lack the motivation to send out another resume, make another job inquiry, read another job ad.

It’s often during these times when God does His best work. When the pain of your job loss is real and you’re not coping well, His grace is more relevant. When depression handcuffs you, His mercy sets you free. When emptiness robs you of power, His Spirit provides power to move ahead.

Oh, the pain is real. The emptiness is tangible. The depression is almost physical. These are very honest human emotions and very common. But you can’t allow yourself to dwell on them or wallow in them.

Who’s in control?

While it’s all too human, it can also be debilitating. You begin thinking you are the one controlling the situation and not God. You begin believing if only you had said or done something differently, the outcomes would be better, you could still be employed. You begin contemplating that your unemployment may never change, instead of focusing on the fact that God will move you when He’s ready.

What you need instead is to reframe your focus, your thoughts, by dwelling on these things:

• God, not self: When the pain is great, it’s because you are focusing on self, your limited perspective, your lack of answers, your needs. By focusing on God, you gain His perspective, begin to see He has the answers, and know you can trust Him to meet your needs.
• Holy Spirit, not circumstances: Focusing on circumstances brings the pain of your own inability to deal with them and your finite resources. Focusing on the Holy Spirit’s provision, you realize you already have His power in you to cope.
• Christ, not situations: Your situation from where you sit may appear dismal. It may be discouraging. It may foster depression. Remembering and focusing on Christ’s promises overcomes all of that.

So, where’s your focus?

Are you currently in pain? How long have you been there? What steps are you taking to use your pain for good and refocus on what God is doing?

Dear Comforter, there are times when my pain and fear is so intense I can’t see anything else. Help me move beyond that to see your smiling face peering through the fog of pain.

If you would like to explore working with a Christian centered Career Coach, Contact me for a no-obligation 60-90 minute job search consultation with America’s Job Searching Coach, or text me at 425-220-0707  and we can discuss your situation, your résumé, what you would like to achieve, and structure your job search to fit your uniqueness.

I am also available to speak to groups.