When Jim lost his job at age forty-five, he struggled with feelings of self-worth. He had a Master’s degree in Physics and had been with an aerospace company for almost 20 years. Another year and he would have had a hefty pay increase and retirement benefits. He knew that, and so did the company. That’s why they replaced him with a woman the age of his daughter at half the salary.
It was a matter of economics, down-sizing, said his boss, who was shaking in his boots wondering if he might not also get fired. But that didn’t help how Jim felt. What do you do when you feel sorry for yourself? Kick the dog? Or sit down and have a talk with yourself? If you are God’s child, if you know that you have a relationship with the Father because the Son has become your Savior, then you need to tell yourself or possibly remind yourself of these four guidelines:
Guideline #1: When you feel beaten up by circumstances, remind yourself that you are God’s child. Those feelings of worthlessness don’t come from Him. They are circumstance-driven, and when you go back to the Word you remember that He is your Father.
Guideline #2: Remind yourself of something very important: God never promised to exempt you from trouble, but to be with you in trouble. In Isaiah 43 you find the word "when" three times. God says when you go through the waters He will be with you, when you face the fire you will not be burned, when you go through the flood, you will not be overwhelmed. The word is when, not if. The bottom line is that we live in an imperfect, broken world. On occasion we who are God’s children become victims of circumstances which beat us up, but this isn’t the last chapter.
Guideline #3: Remember nothing is forever. This is hard to believe when you are a physicist and the only job opening is for a cook at a local greasy spoon restaurant. You are over-qualified and nobody wants to pay you what you are worth. You begin wondering if you are worth more than an entry-level salary. Instead of thinking of your situation as being fatal, think of it as an opportunity, a time to regroup and explore new areas of possibility.
Guideline #4: Do your part while God does His. God does for us what we can’t do ourselves, but He probably won’t motivate someone to call you and beg you to go to work for him. Your part is getting out there knocking on doors, following up on friends in your line of work, submitting applications and putting your best foot forward. Then trust God to open the door and await His timing with patience.
Remember, it’s the connection with your Father in heaven which keeps you from getting beaten up by circumstances of life.
Resource Reading: Romans 8:18-28