Over a month ago, I was laid off. Since then, I have had to update my resume, apply for unemployment insurance, create several profiles on job sites, hunt for open positions, apply to jobs, and wait. In this daily experience of waiting, I’ve been forced to think, a lot! Being laid off from a job is a significant life event that can evoke a range of emotions, from shock and disappointment to fear and uncertainty. It represents a sudden disruption to one’s professional and financial stability, and the aftermath can be challenging to navigate. However, the experience of being laid off is not solely defined by its negative aspects. It can also be a catalyst for personal growth, resilience, and the exploration of new opportunities.
I came across this following parable one day.
After reading the parable, the father’s question stuck with me: “Who are you like? The potato, egg, or tea leaves?”
When I got the news of being laid off, it was a shock. Experts say feelings of disbelief and confusion can overwhelm individuals as they grapple with the sudden loss of their job. Financial concerns and worries about the future may arise, exacerbating the emotional toll. However, later in the day, I also realized that there was a sense of relief–since, for the first time in over four years of being in that job, it was now very clear to me that it was time to move on. So it was time for me to figure out, as the father in the parable advised, how I would come out of this tough situation.
Thankfully, as a Christian, I know that I am not alone in this journey. Jesus has promised to be with me to the very end (Matthew 28:20). I also have my ever supportive family! And I have the wonderful promises in God’s Word, like this Psalm, which I was led to a couple of days after the news:
Furthermore, I know that being laid off does not define one’s worth or abilities. Again, the wisdom of the father in the parable rings true: “Life puts everyone in tough situations….” Being laid off is not unique to me. Many people have experienced it. What makes it a unique experience is what it draws out of you. As stated earlier, being laid off can be a catalyst for personal growth, resilience, and the exploration of new opportunities. In the words of Kelly Clarkson:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Kelly Clarkson’s song Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone
What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone
This journey–of being unemployed–is still on-going. I don’t know when I will be employed again. Each day, I battle with the “what ifs” and the uncertainties. But each time I feel anxious, I force myself to get back into the truths from God’s Word, like Jeremiah 29:11 (The Voice):
”For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that.”
I hope this breathes life into your dark situation. Life might have thrown us a few “curve balls”. But our HOPE is in God!