Case Studies
THE CASE OF THE IMPATIENT JOBHUNTER
Lion’s Den Situation:
How do I, as a Christian, deal with being out of work? It’s been seven and a-half months since I was laid off, and I don’t understand what’s happened to God’s provision. I had an excellent, prestigious, well-paying job. And in an instant it’s gone. I’m running into dead end after dean end in my job search. I am angry at the people from my former company and impatient with God. I am finding it extremely difficult to cope with my low self-image. How can I possible discern God’s will in this mess?
— Down and Out (of work), Atlanta, GA
Christian Solution:
Our fist response comes from Ted Sprague, former president of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. After nine years of service which culminated with a record year in 1990, during which Mr. Sprague played an integral role in Atlanta’s bid for the 1994 Super Bowl and the 1996 Olympic Games (both of which the city officially hosted) he was told in February of 1991 that his contract would not be renewed.
The loss of my job shocked me and rocked me, as yours did. If I was a football coach whose record was 2 wins and 11 losses, I could have expected losing my job. But my track record was the equivalent of a football coach with a 15 win, 1 loss, 1 tie season. My budget was in fine shape. I had just completed the most productive year on the job. So, you can imagine my disbelief when told I was finished.
Of all the people I know, I thought I had the most secure job. But as I walked with my wife when I got home the day I was fired, I said to her, "Who did I think I was that this would never happen to me?"
What you and I must realize is that none of what’s happened has taken God by surprise. He has designed our lives with ups and downs. He has told us we can expect good times and trouble: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be over-joyed when his glory is revealed."—1 Peter 4:12-13; "Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?"—Job 2:10.
Yes, such scripture comforted me, but I was still furious about my firing. There were no substantial reasons for it. The more I found out what was going on behind my back, the angrier I became. My friends encouraged me to hold a press conference to defend myself. And, at first, I planned on doing that. My flesh and my competitive nature—everything in me—wanted to fight back. And, if it weren’t for God’s word, I would have blown the whole situation wide open. I may have become belligerent, I may have smashed mirrors—who knows what I may have done? But God does not want us to be angry. And fortunately, I realized He does not want us to take revenge. It is His responsibility to take revenge if He so desires (Romans 12:14-21). It is our responsibility to persevere, have patience, and endue our hardships.
After my firing, my daily walk with the Lord became more important than ever. As the months went by without work, I read my Bible each morning to renew my mind. I still do today. I made notes in it as if it were a personal diary, noting how God had guided me through good times and bad. I prayed over it. And I constantly remembered the promise in 1 Peter 5:10, which says that after we have suffered awhile, God will restore us, make us strong, firm, and steadfast.
As for the future; let Him do the planning. Isaiah 55:8-9 clearly tells us that He knows what is up ahead. While you may see 10 years down the road, He sees forever.
Our next response comes from Dennis Shere, former president and publisher of the Dayton Daily News in Dayton, OH. Mr. Shere was fired in June of 1988 after five years of service when he used publisher’s prerogative to reject an advertisement submitted to the paper by a local gay and lesbian group. Mr. Shere was told his personal religious convictions should not influence the way he ran the newspaper. He was out of work for almost one year before accepting a position as general manager of Moody magazine.
My circumstances are a bit different than yours because I made a conscious decision which I believe God wanted me to make, knowing I may be fired. I felt a great frustration from the realization that once I took my stand, I may not be picked up right away—or ever again—by another newspaper. It soon became apparent that it wasn’t going to be easy for me to land another responsible newspaper job at all. My past good record was overlooked. Future prospective employers were concerned that my religious convictions may get in the way.
For a long time after my firing, I thought, "What now? What’s next?" I hadn’t had to apply for a job in over 20 years. Because of the way the newspaper business is, I had difficulty dealing with the fact that I was not the commodity I thought I was. And realizing I may have to settle for much less of a position and pay I thought I was worth was a struggle as well.
Indeed, our jobs are critical to our self-image. Certainly, you question your faith. Satan attacks in that way. And your faith is shipwrecked right now because your run out to sell yourself and there are no job opportunities. It’s scary. And the situation is even worse if your spouse is getting on your case, or if the job loss was out of your control, as yours was.
When your success and your career are suddenly gone, you have to reach deep down and find in yourself a reason to continue. It can be extremely difficult to be productive with your days. You need to take stock of your strengths and weaknesses. Develop a resumé that will get you in the door, but don’t rely on that resumé as your only vehicle. Follow up with a phone call, continue networking, talking with people, making connections, and getting to see as many people as you can. Finding another job is going to take salesmanship on your part. But more importantly, it’s going to take faith, determination, and trust in God.
In The Lions Den, Marketplace Networks, Summer 1991, pages 4, 5
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