If you think the perfect life would be one in which you didn’t have to work, think again. God created the garden of Eden, then He created Adam, then He told Adam that his job was to take care of it. Work gives dignity and meaning to our lives. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Those who work…will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense’ (v. 11 NIV). For the next few days, let’s talk about how to have job security. In 2023 the unemployment rate in the UK was about 4.2 per cent (almost three million workers). With statistics like those, it’s easy to see why so many of us live in fear of becoming unemployed. The fear of losing your job is rooted in the following core fears. Lack: ‘How will I meet my obligations?’ Inadequacy: ‘I’m not good enough.’ Helplessness: ‘What do I do now?’ Loneliness: ‘I’ll be isolated from my social network.’ For some, the shame and humiliation of losing a job is as devastating as the loss of income. Fretting about being fired can become a self-fulfilling prophecy because its anxiety makes you less efficient and effective. So if you live with the constant fear of losing your job, it’s time to stop worrying and start developing a strategy that will enhance your position on the job or assure you of a soft landing if you’re made redundant. Your very first strategy must be to trust in God’s faithfulness: ‘The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do….The Lord will again delight in being good to you…if you obey his voice’ (Deuteronomy 30:9-10 NLT).
