Many economists are saying that the Great Recession is over. The stock market has rallied to new heights for the year. Gross Domestic Product is growing at a healthy clip. There are glimmers of hope in housing starts, manufacturing and auto sales. Sounds promising, right? But when economists pronounce the end of the recession, all they are really saying is that some technical statistics have indicated that the economy has stopped contracting.
Unfortunately, the lagging indicator in an economic recovery is always unemployment. While the papers trumpet the turnaround, the harsh truth is that unemployment has hit its highest rate since the early eighties, tracked last week at 10.2%. This grim reality affects millions of folks who could care less what the rest of the goverment’s statistics have to say.
Lyla, a High Calling Blogger at A Different Story, is one of those recently unemployed, and tells of her experience on the last day of her job:
“It’s a peculiar feeling, today.
I’ve deleted all my email, loaded my car, shipped my files and changed my voice mail to notify customers “I am no longer an active employee.”
I have nothing to do.”
She goes on to describe the events of that day, and concludes with this:
What will you do now?
My answer remains the same: I will wait on God. He hasn’t failed me yet.
I don’t suppose He’ll change His ways anytime soon.
And so continues this new chapter in the story of His great faithfulness.
Here is a woman of faith, who views the last day of her employment not as and ending, but as the beginning of something new that God will do, an opportunity to reveal His faithfulness. We are not sure how, or when, or where, but the deep knowing is there. With God’s help, all will be well.
Be sure to read Lyla’s whole story here.
Interwtined photo by nAncY, used with permission.
Post written by Bradley J. Moore of Shrinking the Camel.
And a hat tip to Jennifer of Getting Down with Jesus for pointing us to Lyla’s inspiring post.
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Losing your job can also put you in a quiet, lonely place. We need to overcome our own feelings of discomfort (andif we’re honest we’ll face up to them) and reach out to those who have lost jobs. We’re part of that “waiting on God” that Lyla describes so well.
I agree Glynn, those of us with resources, or even a word of encouragement, time to pray for others, etc. show what we believe when we live generously. We live the same faith the authors discuss when we know that what we have is from the Lord. And in His time, if He has given to us when others don’t have, it may be to provide specifically for those needs.
I’ve can relate to Lyla’s hope and security in Christ during a trying time like that. I’ve recently been through some challenges that required the same kind of faith. It is an awesome feeling to have the kind of trust that a Christian can have when dealing with trials of many kinds. I know that for me, having that level of trust really helped me to have a great peace through the storm…
I also agree with Glynn and Amy in that it is also a time that the rest of us need to be there to support, encourage, and lift up those who are going through difficult times. For me, I had a group of friends that I shared my situation with, and they literally prayed me through it. Knowing that they were there in faithful prayer lifted my spirits in a way that nothing else could.
Good stuff Bradley!
Glynn & Amy, it’s funny. There are folks who have certainly “been there” (and are there) for my family right now as we explore the future. But I find myself, not constrained at the present by the challenges of full time employment, being able to be there for others and be in places I haven’t been able to be for a very long time. But that’s the Kingdom — we show up where God has us at any given time, and whether with or without, there’s a place for us to be part of what He’s doing. I’m grateful for those He’s brought alongside us during this stretch.
Dan, that hope is an amazing thing. God was gracious to give me time to prepare — to allow Him to do the heart work that needed to be done to get us to a place where we wait to see how He uses this time to lead us to love Him more, trust Him more and obey Him more. If He accomplishes that, everything else is bonus.
Yes, I was really inspired by Lyla’s faith here. Entering that white space of waiting, not knowing, the great unknown, can either be an extreme anxiety-provoking experience, or else a great act of faith and trust in the hope of God’s adventure for your life.
Every ending is the beginning of something new.
Bradley, sometimes that white space can be both. As we all do, I have the opportunity to put my best foot forward when writing, and some of that anxiety gets left behind. It comes, and it goes. But that hope and trust, it’s anchored pretty deep. Again, thanks so much for the feature here. Left me humbled and (briefly) without words.
thanks for using the photo.
i have a new page on my blog now, just for easy direction to photoblog, where i post photos.
i slowed down on taking photos quite a bit through harvest.
hope to get back at it again.
good post, i will have to check out the lyla story.
I see much faith here…. inspiring.
Brad, You already know that I admire your work. I also appreciate your attempt to deal candidly in a timely manner with real issues. Sometimes, even when we can’t help or fully understand someone’s pain and uncertainty, it is of value to at least acknowledge their dilemma. Assure them of our prayers and good wishes. Do anything we can practically to alleviate their suffering and offer encouragement or assistance in finding opportunities. ~donkimrey
Nancy: photos, lovely. Did it switch during the day or was that just me? (And nice to meet you as well.)
Cindy and Don: my heartfelt thanks to you as well for your kind words. A little encouragement goes a long, long way….
Yeah, it switched during the day.. A little technical glitch that we had to correct. It is still a photo by nAncY, though!
Bradley,
When I left the workforce, it was sudden but it was my choice. It was so liberating to me. But when my first business failed, and I had to shut the doors I felt like a child had died (I know it can be nothing compared to actually losing a child, but it’s the best analogy I can come up with).
I have since recognized God’s hands in both situations, but to do it while it is happening does take a lot of faith. God bless her, and the millions like her in this Great Recession.
Brad
What a gut-wrenching time that Lyla relayed. I hurt for her…and all my friends who have lost their jobs.
And my friends, its going to get worse.
David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
Press on, Lyla. And let us know when you find a job.
Thanks Sam. As it happens, a colleague and I just hung out the shingle and opened up our own firm to do some independent contracting. So, I think I can say I have a job . . . just don’t know when I can say it is a paying one.
It’s still all about positioning for that more love, more trust, more obedience thing God’s been after me about. I suspect this will take at least as much of that as anything else.
A new adventure! Very cool. Here’s to deeper trust, and a paycheck!