Joyfully Unemployed

Many of you know by now that through God-orchestrated circumstances, I was given the opportunity to leave my job and seek employment elsewhere. Though an apparently foolish career move in the eyes of this world (who quits a job in this economy without having something else lined up?), the situation presented itself as a floodlight on the narrow gate. God asked me to swallow the lump in my throat and charge through it. Leap and He'd catch me. So I did.

Now comes the doldrums of it all - struggling with the temptation to laziness or doubt. There's only a couple of hours worth of job searching that can be done each day, which leaves approximately 22 other hours to fill. Tempting to fear that I made the wrong move and what if God doesn't pull through? Tempting to do a lot of napping, internet browsing, and other senseless time-burning exercises. But I know that each day, each hour is a gift from the Lord, intended to be spent well on things that build His kingdom. No one burns good gifts like that.

This morning I was skimming back over some posts from earlier this summer, pleas for God to use me in in ways less corporate, that don't involve ladders and numbers and all things business. I wanted time for ministry and to use my gifts to help people. I felt trapped in a job that wanted me to "go somewhere" and "make something of myself" when God was telling me that I already had everything I needed for life and godliness. What a blessing to be reminded of God's faithfulness and wisdom in guiding my steps - to remember that my wonderful God gives good gifts to his children and works all things for good.

And so, because of the gospel, because Christ died to pay the penalty of my sins, I can rest in my relationship with God, who is now my Father, and trust that he will take care of money and the logistics of finding me a new job. In this phase of unemployment, I can seek ways to use my gifts and free time to bless others. And what a blessing - what a joy - to be free of previous restraints and to look forward to new responsibilities and new adventures that God has for me to pursue.