Article March 19, 1990 Issue

What God wants you to do

Losing a job does not mean you are worthless.

Sarah V. Silvernail

For most of us, our work is of vital importance, at least economically. But sometimes an occupation becomes the major means of defining our worth and identity. When present employment ends, then—if we're fired, laid off, phased out—it may be a time when feelings of fear, resentment, and bitterness crowd in and threaten to overwhelm us. What can we do?

Instead of an unhappy period of anxiety and fear, we can make this time one of accepting new ideas that will enable us to gain a clearer sense of identity and worth.

An experience that my husband and I had was a real turning point for us in the way we think about our careers. We were working for the same employer, and one afternoon, just before quitting time, my husband called to say that he had just been told his job was going to be phased out. I can still remember the feelings of shock and turmoil that overwhelmed me. That evening a close friend of ours, a Christian Scientist from out of town, came to dinner. We got through the meal without saying anything about the work situation, but as soon as we had finished eating, we poured out our sad tale. I finished up by saying, "Of course, we want to do what God wants us to do!"

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