Redundancy - A Christian Perspective

“The Company must maintain its viability by reducing costs – and that means, I’m afraid, that we have to dispense with your services. We’re very sorry, but if it wasn’t for the poor prevailing economic conditions, things may be very different”

A relatively short sentence which hit me like a sledge hammer. “Why me Lord? Why”?  I asked myself. Couldn’t it have been someone else?  Then I got back into my car and began to talk to Jesus about it. Had I been so bad? Had my sins been so deplorable that I had to face taking my family through hardship during the Christmas season? Why me Lord why? Why have you done this to me?

I had to drive two and a half hours before I could reach the solace of my home and the comforting arms of my wife and children… so I had time to think….

I recalled a book that I read recently. 'The Shack' recounts the heartache of 'Mac' at a time when he felt God had deserted him. It relates how he is guided to put his trust in God despite the devastation and hard times. It demonstrates that working through issues together with God, rather than maintaining a state of distant independence from Him, changes everything.

The book relates the many dialogues that take place between Mac and the persons of the Blessed Trinity……It is enthralling, enlightening and comforting – but one message stands loud and proud above the rest

“Put your trust in me, surrender to me, obey me and abide in me”.

As I recalled this message, I felt calm, collected, and cosseted in the arms of my God.  And so the long and arduous job of finding work began and still continues. I must do my bit – I can’t leave it all to Him but I know that He guides me and will not let me down.

I have times where I despair and worry hits me like a wall. But those are the times when I talk to Jesus. I put my faith back in him and He helps me through another day.  Many people are helping me and are praying for me and some have provided the following thoughts:

“A test of a Christian's character is what he does after he comes to the blockade in the road and what his attitude is after everything has left him except Jesus”.

“You will never know down here that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have left”.

And one very perceptive young man said to me, “God parted the Red Sea – what makes you think that he won’t find you a job?”

Through all of this I know that Jesus was not instrumental in making me redundant. He is there to redeem it. He is there to help me to gain worthwhile employment and his will be done.  I don’t blame Him; I don’t blame anybody. But I trust in Him, I surrender my life to Him, I listen for His commands which I obey and above all I maintain a constant dialogue with Him.

This is how I maintain the strength to cope with my predicament.

For practical advice and support for anyone facing redundancy please click here to download 9 Simple Steps, produced by Churches' Industrial Group Birmingham.