1. I keep hearing about the unemployment rate and how hard it is to get a job and blah, blah, blah. Until it is you it is just a topic for conversation. I am currently unemployed and can’t believe I still exist. I surely thought that if I didn’t have my career I would evaporate into thin air. Now I don’t work, seriously? What do I do with my time? Or a better question is, what was I doing with my time when I was working? After a long painful struggle with my identity, my worth, my self esteem, my future, and ultimately my ego, I realize I lost my job but not my life. In fact I now thank God for forcing me out of my job so I could get closer to Him. For me, work was a big distraction in my relationship with God. My job was my purpose; it consumed most of my goals for my life. It was what I was proud of and what I worked hard for. It also was my financial security. It gave me my sense of worth and sense of self. The one thing it didn’t give me was peace. There was always drama that I somehow got involved in, even though I knew better and tried to seek God in tough situations. Now I realize God wants a more intimate relationship than that. God intends for us to keep our thoughts on Him all the time and not get distracted with thoughts of worry, fear, regret, anger, or even what we are going to do in the future. How many times do we get so involved in our work that we forget about Him? How many times do we wait until we are in trouble to pray? What kind of relationship can you have with anyone if you only talk to them when you need something? I know for me the second I walked in the door at work He was the last thing on my mind. I know now that my purpose is to love and seek Him constantly. It took losing my job to find my life. As far as a career right now I’m not quite sure what’s going to happen but I know it is in God’s hands, not mine. I beg all the people who have lost or are going to lose their jobs don’t panic because you won’t evaporate into thin air. God has something bigger for you. He makes no mistakes and losing your job is part of His plan for you. Think about the time you now have available to establish an intimate relationship with Him. Put the effort you used for your career into getting to know Him better. M.M