I'm Unemployed. Is God Punishing Me?

Thinking through God’s Calling and Your Opportunity

Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people.

Colossians 3:23

Did you know that "God helps those who help themselves" is one of the most-quoted  phony  Bible verses out there? Remember this: God  “know(s) the hopes of the helpless” ( Psalm 10:17 )  and His  “power works best in weakness.” ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 )  If you’ve been praying for a job for a long time, here are a few things to consider. 

 

Consider God’s Calling

Does God have a plan for you? Yes. The bigger question is, "What is God’s  plan ?" We all have dreams for our life, but God’s plan is first. He does not want to just be a  part  of the plans I make for my life. God’s plan involves His “Kingdom” because He is the King, and we owe loyalty to Him.  Sin  is  disloyalty  to Him, and  “The Lord will not hear me if I hold on to sin in my heart.” ( Psalm 66:18 )  But there’s more to think about as you wait for an answer to your prayer for a job. 

 

Consider How God Created You

Ephesians 2:1-10  shows that it’s God’s work, not ours, that is most important.  “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ( Ephesians 2:10 )  You are unique for God's purposes. Sometimes it's hard for you to see your uniquenesses. Ask a trusted Christian friend to pray with you. Together, you can think through the things that make you different from others. This may open some doors you hadn’t thought about before. 

 

Consider the Importance of Patience

Sometimes you might pray and submit yourself humbly to God, but still have to wait a while. Waiting for fulfillment makes the eventual answer unforgettable. The Bible says,  "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." ( Proverbs 13:12 )  God’s calling for you is a holy calling, no matter what your job is. If you are certain you are where He wants you to be, you can be a grocery clerk, a truck driver or a dog catcher to the glory of God just as much as the preacher or full-time Christian worker can!  “Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people.” ( Colossians 3:23 )