Finding God In UnemploymentSample

Unemployment and Rest

Finding a job sometimes seems like a full-time job itself. It’s easy to lose sight of the normal rhythms of everyday life when we are without work and/or looking for work.

Many barriers to rest start in the mind, and that’s very true in a time of unemployment. It is particularly difficult to rest when life’s circumstances create resentment toward others, fear of the myriad things that can go wrong, or anxiety about others’ expectations. Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds believers to let go of the obstacles of the mind and to look instead to Christ, trusting in him for the future.

Imagine looking at your current situation from a distant future time point (also known as a “fast-forward” model of decision making). How would you think about it differently? Does it help to know that your life has eternal significance? Remember that God loved us so much that he was willing to leave the place of perfect rest to enter into the unrest of this world. Christ, the lord of the Sabbath, became incarnate as a man who had “no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20) so that his followers could find real rest. He wants that rest for you.

Prayer

Lord, help me to seek my rest in you. Guide me as I find a rhythm of prayer and activity, even in unsettling times. I give praise and glory to you as the one who came to a troubled world for my sake. Let me always rest in your unchanging love. Amen.

Further Exploration

Click to read more about how Christians can experience deeper rest, from the Theology of Work Project.