A salesman grapples with difficult questions in a down economy: “Will my business survive? Is my job on the line? If things go wrong, how will I provide for my family?” Our panel offers perspective.
A typically confident, optimistic businessman has not had much reason to celebrate lately. His sales for the year are down significantly, and market trends don’t bode well for a turnaround. He’s wondering . . . well, worrying, actually . . . about his future with the company. Layoffs have already occurred in his division, and rumor has it that more are on the way. Despite his fourteen years of service, he’s afraid. Every time his boss approaches him, he gets a lump in his throat.
His savings are down, his debt is up, and he probably owes more on his house than he could sell it for. One of his close friends already lost his home due to similar circumstances.
His wife and three school-aged children are depending on him. Truth be told, he hasn’t shared his anxieties with them—what good would that do? He finds himself lying awake at night feeling trapped and even hopeless, pondering endless “what ifs.”
As a father of four children, I can relate to your worries about providing. It’s frightening to feel like you are the only one standing between your kids and disaster.
It helps me to remember that God is concerned about feeding my kids too. He created our bodies, and He made them to need food daily (Matt. 6:11). He isn’t ashamed of our need for money to buy necessities; but sometimes we are. It’s as if needing these things makes us weak or a failure.
Acknowledging our needs to God and other Christians helps us embrace the truth that we are not self-sufficient. We need God and others—something that financial prosperity and “job security” can enable us to ignore.
A friend recently made this profound observation as unemployment topped 10% in his hometown: “If nine employed Christians can’t take care of one that is unemployed, our problems are much bigger than economic.” He’s right! Practicing the “one anothers” of Scripture would take the fear out of unemployment for the Christian community. And what better testimony could there be to the reality of Christ in our midst than the way we care for those in need?
I would encourage you to share your anxieties with a small group of Christian friends who can pray with you about your needs. And remember, you aren’t unemployed yet! Faith in God means beginning to practice the kind of giving to those in need that you may need from others in the future (2 Cor. 8:14).
Del Fehsenfeld was trained as a family counselor and is the Senior Editor for Life Action Ministries.
I was just beginning in my ministry when the unthinkable (at least in my mind) happened: I was laid off. I had just bought a new car, moved into a new apartment, and had a child—and the layoff was announced on our fourth wedding anniversary! God taught us some valuable lessons through this trial.
The most important thing I learned was that God (not an employer) is my source. The fact that I had lost my job did not take God by surprise. We saw Him provide daily (Phil. 4:19), sometimes in miraculous ways. With no paycheck for almost three months, God paid every bill, and we lacked for nothing!
We also learned frugal stewardship. God showed us ways we could stretch our resources. It’s very tempting to cut back on giving to the Lord’s work, but I believe we need to continue to honor God by putting Him first in giving.
And thankfully, God is the “God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). As He comforts us in hard times, we can empathize with others who suffer similar circumstances. I prayed often, “Lord, let my reactions to this trial reflect Your character.” No matter what the future holds, God will use you to help others.
Wilson Green pastored for 21 years in Virginia and Illinois before joining Life Action in 1999. He currently co-leads a Life Action summit team.
Charles Spurgeon once commented, “Such strange creatures are we that we probably smart more under blows which never fall upon us than we do under those which do actually come.”
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus counsels us not to worry about tomorrow. Instead, He urges us to concentrate on the fact that our loving and powerful heavenly Father will provide what we need each day.
Further, Jesus knew that sometimes our anxiety about physical provision can become more important to us than eternal things. That’s why, in His counsel on worry, Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [everything you truly need] will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33 ESV).
Finally, you’re hiding your concerns from your wife in hopes that by your own effort and determination you’ll be able to hold everything together. But by doing this, you’ve cut yourself off from a critical source of help God has given you—her prayers, support, and counsel. I would encourage you to follow Paul’s advice for dealing with anxiety:
1) Remind yourself that the Lord is near; 2) reject the temptation to worry; 3) pray about your concerns; 4) focus your attention on all the blessings God has given you in Christ (Phil. 4:5-8).
This wonderful news remains: No matter what happens in the economy, your Father will provide all you truly need in Christ Jesus.
Elyse Fitzpatrick has been a counselor since 1989. She is the author of over a dozen books, including Overcoming Fear, Worry and Anxiety (Harvest House, 2001).
1. Begin reading Proverbs daily, asking God to give you fresh wisdom for your money, work, and family.
2. Share your job concerns with your wife. By keeping her in the dark, you are denying her the ability to fulfill her God-given responsibility of being your helper. At a minimum, ask for her prayers.
3. Memorize Philippians 4:8. Every time you are tempted to worry, review the verse in your heart.
4. Take practical action now, while you still have income. Look for ways to reduce spending, pay down debts, and increase your emergency savings (Pro. 27:12). For helpful advice on this, consider reading Your Money Map by Howard Dayton or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (available at www.ChristianBook.com). Also, visit www.crown.org for biblical counsel about money.
5. “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matt. 7:12 NIV). Consider the plight of those who have lost jobs or homes, and pray about ways to assist them.
Bill Eliff, pastor of The Summit Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, will share some practical help and encouragement, out of his years of ministry, for dealing with fear in our lives.
http://www.lifeaction.org/revival-resources/revive/fear/
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