Doesn’t God Care?

Being unemployed is scary! Things are happening over which we have no control. We can feel helpless and worthless as more and more employers decide we're not right for their job openings.

This desperate fear can even occur to those of us who consider ourselves Christians. We go to church, we pray, we try to live a God-pleasing life, we may even read our Bibles. But here we are - unemployed. This isn't supposed to happen to us. We're supposed to be God's people - His blessed. What's going on? We are in this terrible predicament, scared, and suffering. Doesn't God care? Why doesn't He do something?

There was a time in the New Testament when the disciples felt the same way. In Mark 4:35-40 they found themselves in a boat, at sea, in a fierce storm. Why were they there? Because Jesus told them to be there (vs. 36). It was a dangerous situation. Some of them were professional fishermen and they were scared (vs. 35). And where was Jesus? He was with them. But He was asleep! As a Christian you know Jesus is with you but do you ever think He's asleep - or just not paying attention? The apostles did. In fact, they came to Him and woke Him up with an accusation. The same accusation we can express when we're going through the storm of unemployment. "Lord, don't You care that we are perishing?"

If they would have stopped and thought about it, they would have figured out that they were right where Christ told them to be. Doing exactly what He had told them to do. If they drowned in the storm so would Jesus because they were in the boat together. But they didn't think it through and they panicked.

You know that, as a Christian, Jesus is with you in this boat of unemployment. In the second half of Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (New Living Translation) Don't panic.
It doesn't make our fear seem so bad when even the apostles could feel the same way we do. When Jesus woke up, He identified the problem. The apostles weren't willing to have faith and ride out the storm trusting that He knew what He was doing.

In spite of the small and fearful faith of the apostles, Jesus calmed the sea. But that's not all He calmed (vs. 40). God has a message for us as we go through the storms of life - a message of reassurance even in the storm of joblessness.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, 

The God who is our salvation. 

Psalm 68:19 (New American Standard Bible - Updated)

Promises, Promises

Once upon a time there was a young man who was hopelessly lost in the forest. He had searched and searched, looked and looked, and still couldn't find his way out. He was becoming frightened. "What happens if I never find my way," he said. "I'll die here in the forest and no one will even know." The young man even embarrassed himself by shedding a few frightened tears.

Then he began to pray. He hadn't prayed before or, at least, not very often. He really didn't even know how to put his need into the correct "official" words of prayer. So he began, "God, if you're there, I need help. My name is Frank, but I guess you know that. I'm really lost, but I guess you know that too. If you help me find help I promise I'll be a good person from now on. I'll go to church every Sunday, or at least I'll try. I'll talk to you more often. I won't break as many of your rules. I'll do anything you want, if you'll just save my life. I'll even be a missionary if that's what you want!"

Suddenly, as he was praying and stumbling along, the young man broke through a hedge of bushes and found himself on a road with a sign that read, "Gas, Food, Phone, Restrooms - 5 Miles." Immediately he gave a huge sigh of relief and finished his prayer with, "Oh, never mind. I found my own way out."

How like Frank we are. When things are tough we try to get God on our side with promises. Promises, Promises. We'll say anything. Promise anything we think will help. We think if God likes what He hears maybe we'll get a miracle.

"For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords.

He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, 

who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 

Deuteronomy 10:17 (New Living Translation)

There was another time when a young man named Peter had gotten himself into trouble. He had climbed out of a perfectly good boat on the Sea of Galilee. Everything had gone fine for a minute or two, then it dawned on him where he was and what he was doing. Even though he was doing a good thing and moving toward his master, Jesus, he realized how much danger he was really in and he began to sink. To his credit, he didn't start making Jesus promises or commitments. He just reached toward Jesus and yelled out, "Save me!" That's all it took. Jesus snatched him out of the danger. He was safe in the arms of his Lord.

Sometimes the best prayers are not the promises but the simple appeals. God doesn't need anything you can offer, but He's waiting for you to just ask His help. Don't try to bribe Him with promises - just cry out and reach for His hand.

"I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (NLT)

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NLT)

Your 45 Second Infomercial Part 2

When you're planning your 45 second "selling messages" it is important that you remember the difference between the "features" of your story and the "benefits" of those features to the potential employer. For example: "I was born and raised in the Midwest" is a feature. "Therefore I have a very strong work ethic" is a benefit to the employer. "I've lived in six different states" is a feature. "I know how to communicate and work with people of diverse cultures" is a benefit to the employer. "I've learned and used XYZ software" is a feature. "I can learn technical material quickly and put it to practical use in the workplace" is a benefit to the employer.

Ask yourself, "How does what I am or what I've done benefit this company and what they need?" Then, when you give your infomercial, it will meet the needs and desires of the hiring official and the sale will be made. You'll get hired.

Even with your accomplishments - like employee of the month, sales achieved, awards won, or certificates earned - you need to think about how it benefits the prospective hiring company. How do those accomplishments translate into what you can do for the company? People buy products they perceive will give them some kind of benefit. Just saying, "I can do what you need" leaves you on the shelf as just another can-opener. What you can do for the company will get you off the shelf and into the job.

Once you have your "scripts," practice with your family and friends. Get used to hearing your own voice actually saying what you want to communicate. Become familiar with what you practice so that you can very naturally deliver it in a conversational tone.

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 (New American Standard - Updated)

Remember, whether standing before "kings" or "hiring officials," people who can clearly state their own skills and what they bring to a prospective employer will stand out from the crowd. Good selling!

Selling Yourself in 45 Seconds Part 1

The average job seeker is not equipped to make a positive first impression. At the very earliest steps to a new job we slam the door closed because we are not prepared. If you've wondered why your networking meetings and job interviews never seem to go anywhere, I want you to consider - are you selling yourself? If you were a fantastic new can-opener how would you present yourself?

Infomercial is a good word that's popped into modern usage in the last 25 years or so. It means, "to give information in order to make a commercial transaction." We've all seen infomercials about the latest and greatest products. These kinds of selling messages work! If they didn't, the marketers would move on to a more effective way of getting the consumer to a buying decision. As a job seeker you need to have your own infomercial ready. If you can't sell yourself, why should an employer "buy" and hire you?

The unemployed constantly hear two sentences - one a statement, the other a question. Yet the average unemployed person is not ready to respond to either and, as a result, many miss the opportunity to make the positive first impression that is so crucial to moving through the process to a new job.

The first sentence is a statement. You've heard this from almost anyone you've met during the process of looking for work. Usually early in every job interview, you will hear, "Tell me about yourself." The second common thing we hear in interviews or networking appointments is the question, "What are you looking for?" If you are not prepared for these "sales" opportunities, your chance of getting that job is slim to none. Too many of us leave our responses to spur of the moment spontaneity and we stumble around, hemming and hawing, making a terrible first impression.

When I was a hiring official, one of the responses I heard a lot was, "I just need a job. I'll take anything." This comes across as too desperate and needy - even if that's true. No employer wants to be, "just a job." In their minds you'll move on as soon as something better comes along. Every employer is thinking, "Can this person help me with what I need for this business to succeed." Employers don't hire people for positions they don't really need.

Take the time to write out your responses to these two openings. Remember you don't have much time. The person asking the question isn't giving you permission for a 10 minute, rambling lecture about your background, experience and skills. Television has trained us to have short attention spans when it comes to our buying inquiries. You have 30 to 45 seconds to articulately present yourself. If you can do this well you'll stand out from almost all of the other candidates. [See Part 2 next week]