Do you define yourself by what you do for a living? Your work matters, but it’s not everything. Your job doesn’t define you any more than a job loss does.
Sometimes, unemployment helps you uncover your true identity.
Let me explain.
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Unemployed? Consider the Blessing
Apart from housework, do you work at home (or away from home) to earn an income? What would happen if you lost your job today?
Or, what if you quit work to raise a family, care for a parent, or support your husband’s career? What if you remained jobless for months or even years? What if you never returned to work?
Would you know yourself?
It’s common to equate your professional role with your personal identity. Without a job, your identity may feel threatened.
But if you’re unemployed, consider the blessing of it. Yes, unemployment CAN be a blessing. You are not your job, and losing your job can help you see this.
Losing Your Work Identity
Unemployment is stressful. According to the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory, it’s one of the top stress events in life.
But no matter how stressful, job loss can reveal important truths. It can uncover your true identity and purpose in life.
I worked in a small public library for 25 years, and my identity became intertwined with my work. Annette the librarian. I felt lost when I quit my job to marry Mitchell Smith, move to the city, and start a new life.
I tried to find a new job. But without a master’s degree in library science, I couldn’t find library work in the city. But in time, I found a new niche in therapeutic foster care.
For two years, I worked with a small, close-knit group of foster parents. Men and women who cared for kids with complex needs. As I settled into the job, I embraced my new role as a foster home development coordinator.
After a while, I started to find my way back to myself. And then, my husband’s work moved us to another new city, so I had to say goodbye to my job and the families.
And again, I felt lost.
RELATED – Your Unemployed Friend: 6 Ways to Help Her Right Now
Finding Your True Identity
Unemployment was hard on me, but it revealed so many things. It helped me see how I had let my work shape my identity. It forced me to see myself from a different perspective – God’s perspective.
And it can do the same for you.
Job loss may change your professional role, but it can never alter your personal identity. If you are a believer, you are a child of God (John 1:12).
Your true identity is in Christ.
The truth is, God wants you to find your identity in His Son. Jesus is the One who gives us our identities (1 Corinthians 6:17).
Whatever your profession may be, your need is the same as mine – to know who you are, and who you can be, in Christ. You will learn more about yourself and God as you grow in your relationship with Him.
Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. Where do you find your identity? Do you define yourself by what you do – or by who you are in Christ?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
NOTE – You are reading “How Unemployment Helps You Uncover Your True Identity.” A version of this post appeared on Blogger in October 2017. It has been updated for the Savoring Home community.
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