Today, we look at the final stage of grieving job loss. There’s no magic number to indicate when a person will reach this stage, but know that when one gets here, they are in a much better place emotionally.
Stage 5: Acceptance
Well, that sucked. What’s next?
I am one of those people who believes that everything happens for a reason. We may never know what that reason is, or we may be clued into the fact at some point in our lives, but everything happens for a reason. This is the time to accept the reality of the situation and use it as a springboard for a new chapter in your life and career. Sure, there may be rough times, but with perseverance, you will land on your feet again soon. The fact is that you WILL find a job. It might be a while, but it’s incredibly unlikely that you will be unemployed forever. You will get through this. We will all get through this! It just takes a whole lot of faith and trust in yourself, and most importantly, your Savior.
Faith Response
We are always given opportunities in our lives to do certain things. Whether we choose to do them is entirely up to us; and often times, our choices depend on what else is going on in our lives at the time. However, when experiencing the loss of a job, one cannot help but to question past decisions that have been made – as well as decisions that will come up in the future. Why not take this opportunity of having reached acceptance and enjoy the journey? Why not make a difference in the lives of others? Why not decide to change the way you do things? Yes, your focus should be on finding new employment. But what’s from stopping you from doing something to help those in need? Volunteer in your community. Help out in a new ministry at your church. Spend time with those who are lonely. By ministering to those in need, by feeding those who hunger (and I’m just not talking about food here), you too will find yourself filled, satisfied, and completed.
Prayer
Loving Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to walk through these five steps of loss in order to find myself. May the knowledge I have learned lead me to new horizons and new adventures. May I understand that if I want to the person you made me to be, that I need to trust in you. Allow me to follow you to where you need me to be, so that I can help those who are in the most need. Let me always know that you are always by my side, helping me in all that I do. And may I also be able to see your light in those whom I encounter. May your Spirit fill me, and may I always strive to overcome my fears so to be your light for others. I ask this in your Son’s name. Amen.
