Helping Someone Who Is Job Searching
During tough times, we can turn to the Lord to help us, and we can seek to help others as well.
When life gets challenging, we tend to pull in and focus on the things that are most important to us: taking care of our families, getting financially stable, securing our future. And when things improve, we enjoy a sigh of relief, express our gratitude to God, and prepare for the next challenge.
But our responsibility goes beyond our own needs and wants. Jesus said, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” This is the way God designed it. When we help others, we take part in God’s work and feel more deeply of His love for us.
We begin by knowing who we are.
As children of God, we carry His characteristics within ourselves: compassion, kindness, a willingness to help. When we focus on developing these characteristics, we discover two things:
- God loves us more than we can imagine.
- We have more capacity than we thought we did.
So, what do we do with this knowledge?
Listen and help.
Many of our friends, neighbors, and community members are underemployed or are out of work. Regular phone calls and texts can help lift spirits, and when appropriate, so can personal visits. In these conversations we can offer support, encouragement, and guidance. Spend time listening to the person who is searching work, and focus on understanding the type of job or position he or she is looking for before offering help. Also, it can be helpful to ask the job seeker what kind of help you can provide.
These resources could be helpful for someone looking to improve a resume, connect professionally, or practice interviewing.
Start with prayer.
We can also pray for and with others. Spending time praying together unites good people in the right efforts. It invites God to open doors. In everything, we can ask for help, direction, strength, and stamina.
Nothing good comes easy, but it does come when our best efforts are combined with our most sincere pleadings.
In the end, we form a worthwhile relationship—with one another, and with God. He loves and blesses those who help His children. We can all be part of the process because we all have something to offer
