I've now been out of work for close on six months, and I'm here to tell you - it's not fun! The joys of being out of work during the worst downturn in decades are extensive - the fact it's an employer's market, so they can treat you how they like; the difficulty of keeping some amount of discipline when your day comprises trawling the same websites applying for the same jobs; the repetative conversations at church which go, 'So have you found a job yet,' 'No.' 'Oh, well - God's in control!' (as if that might come as news to me!); finding yourself watching Dave at two in the afternoon; knowing exactly how this episode of 'Everyone Loves Raymond' is going to work out (Debra shouts, the kids run around, Robert complains about being neglected, mum bakes lasagne and doesn't respect boundaries, dad eats lasagne and makes cutting comments about wife).
Anyway, I got to thinking ... just what does the bible have to say to someone in my situation. I've been working on a few things for other situations, but it struck me that we form a theology of work, and apply our sermons to help those in offices, schools, etc., but our applications seem to stop at, 'Don't worry, God's in control.' What do you say (or not say) to someone who's out of work for a long time? What comfort is there? What challenge? What ways can you glorify God whilst unemployed?
So I'm going to try to post a bit over the next few weeks. I think I may try to cover issues such as:
- Identity
- Community
- Pride, shame and humility
- The sovereignty of God
- Grace for every situation
- Hopefulness and Hopelessness
- The resources God gives to a believer
But we'll see what happens. I hope that if nothing else, it'll force me to think these things through and be a more Christ-like jobseeker. I pray that it might be useful to someone else, too - whether in the future as I seek to counsel others in this situation, or to someone reading this now. But we'll have to see what pans out...
Watch this space!
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