Faith and Job Loss

When our career or job leaves us, we think something went wrong with our faith. We ask questions like,

• "Why has God allowed this to happen to me when I'm one of the good ones -- one of his followers who is active in serving him and his church?"
• "Why haven't my prayers for daily provision, stability in my life, and protection from job loss been answered?"
• "What's wrong with me that God has sent this time of struggle?"

We're like the people who asked Jesus, "Is this man's blindness because of sins of his parents or because of his sins?" We seek direct cause and effect for losses we suffer in life. We want to think that when something bad happens to us that it's because God is angry with us -- because that's the way humans behave.

In fact, we've constructed a reverse theology that's built on this very logic. It's basic tenet is that God won't allow bad things to happen to his followers if they are faithful in obeying him and if they are faithful in praying for his protection and provision. That's a comfortable theology to live with, but it's false. It's simply not in agreement with what the Bible relates to us about God.

The Bible is full of accounts of good people suffering loss. Rather than a book about people who love God never having problems -- never suffering losses of health, loved ones, home, and livelihood -- the Bible gives us example after example of people who have suffered terrible loss and hardship persevering and overcoming through God's power and accomplishment and provision.

We are amazed at their continuing trust in God after what has happened to them. Job is a perfect example. Job is described as a man who loved God and was a great example to all of one who followed God. Yet God allowed Job to lose his means of livelihood, his family, and even his health. How did Job respond? He continued to trust God. In fact, the Bible says Job maintained his integrity. And when all was said and done, God blessed Job many fold, restoring what had been lost and more.

Life according to the Bible is not about never suffering loss and having to endure hardship. It is about maintaining absolute trust in God when you to suffer loss and difficulty in life, and that God will get you through it, not by your own power, but through his power and accomplishment.

That's the true faith perspective to have when your job or career leaves you. So you need a new set of questions:

• "What is God going to teach me about trusting him through this loss?"
• "What can I learn about worshipping him and serving him when things are not going the way I want them to?"
• "Where is God leading me through this experience?"
• "How will God's power and accomplishments be shown through my difficulties?"
  

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT)