Job loss and redundancy

Posted on 21 June 2023 by Global Connections

man holds a bible while praying for guidance and wisdom on his calling

Hope, help, practical and spiritual guidance for those experiencing uncertainty about their future employment

Pause and take to heart these words from Isaiah 40:28-31:

"The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."

And then pray this prayer about our tire-less, weary-less God - as you trust him for all the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical strength you will need for today.

A traumatic time

Redundancy is one of the most traumatic events an employee may experience. Your organisation may have been forced into this situation by events outside their control and very reluctantly as an absolute last resort.

Yet, however much your organisation seeks to handle the situation with sympathy, clarity and sensitivity, being made redundant can feel very personal and the rejection can hit very hard.

Maybe you can’t help but question how others view your contribution to the organisation, and it can feel absolutely humiliating to lose your job.
For others there may be an initial feeling of relief, and financial worries may be pushed to the back of your mind if you have received a good redundancy package.
But the longer-term effects, especially if a new job is hard to come by, can be very discouraging. Confidence can be eroded, and life can become a struggle.
These seasons are almost always characterised by doubt about yourself and anxiety about the future.

So what can you do to help yourself during this period of redundancy?

Call out to God

Christians are not immune to job loss and redundancy – trials and difficulties are part of the Christian life. But we do have a hope beyond the experience of those who don't know God, and we can pour out our concerns to him.

Your job does not define you

Continually remind yourself during this season that your core identity is that you are a child of God (Galatians 3:26) and not in what you do for a living. Your job can easily become the source of your identity – and losing it can fundamentally shake your foundations.

Hold your plans loosely

God's plan may not be the plan that you would have chosen, but during a time of unemployment you may need to learn to hold your plans loosely. Your responsibility is to be faithful in looking for work and to trust that his plan is still being worked out.

God is still sovereign

Nothing takes God by surprise. The God who sees and knows everything knew exactly when you would lose your job. But he also knows what is next. You may not understand why God has allowed this to happen, but you can lean hard on him and his word at this time.

Find support

God knows that you need help with the mental and emotional impact of unemployment. Are there any other Christians you know who are going through the same experience? Get together to support each other through prayer and encouragement.

Become more Christ-like

Might God be using your present circumstances to mould your character to be more like Jesus? Make a decision to reconnect with God in a way you maybe haven’t done in years, and be willing to learn whatever he needs to teach you through this experience.

A time of new opportunity?

One thing redundancy does is give you time and space to explore opportunities that normally you would be too busy to consider, and to think and pray about what God might be calling you to for this next stage of life. It might be just the catalyst you need to make major changes in your life.

Don't miss this opportunity to seek God's voice and leading.

A child holding the world in their hands

Whatever you face right now - whatever it is that makes your chest tighten or your

mind race or your heart anxious - God says to you what he has said

to his people throughout time: I am with you.

Adam Ramsey

Resources

Spiritual help

Sanctification in the Job Hunt - how can I find contentment amongst competition, joy amidst rejection, and peace amidst uncertainty? Renee Tan explores these questions of worth, security and identity.
Five ways to make the most of unemployment - five very practical steps to help you as you seek to move forward, whilst still seeking to trust God and his promises.
When you are between jobs – 10 helpful tips for finding your way through, with God’s help and his perspective, Luke Murry, TGC
Life when work stops - Steve Osei-Mensah (LICC) reflects on the spiritual impact of job loss, some practical steps to take, and how to move forward with fruitful purpose as a disciple of Christ.

Practical help

What to do if you’ve just lost your job – what you should do in the days, weeks and months to come.
Why redundancy could be the best thing to happen to you? - 5 essential tips for ensuring that your redundancy becomes a catalyst for positive change.
Your rights during redundancy - helpful guidance from Acas, from an employment law perspective.
Thinking about a career change? - seven questions to help you determine whether now might be the right time.
When Worry Overwhelms Us - go back to basics and make sure you are using the right approach to settle your troubled mind.
Choose from hundreds of FREE short online courses from top universities and specialist organisations - with Future Learn.

We also offer a number of resources that can help you explore your future options. You might want to start thinking deeper about 'calling' and guidance, discover your spiritual gifts, try out free online careers and personality tests; use this time for voluntary work or theological training; or explore possibilities for the future in God’s service in a Christian job in the UK, in short-term mission, or longer-term overseas.