Coping with Your Husband’s Job Loss
My cell phone rang on Monday morning while I was working at a client’s office. “Lori, can you meet me at home? I’ve just been let go from my job.” I packed up and got in the car and started to drive, my heart pounding, my mind racing…then the tears started, and I began to pray.
Just the previous Sunday afternoon, Del and I had been talking about his job. Over a period of time there had been significant leadership changes in his company, resulting in increased stresses and frustrations that hindered him from being able to do his job well. Many times Del would come home with a bad tension headache after a long day at work, not to mention the extreme fatigue he was feeling. He told me he wasn’t sure if God was trying to tell him it was time to find another job, or whether He wanted him to persevere in this job. We decided he should update his resume and start sending it out to some recruiters, and we would see if God would open any doors. Then the decision was taken out of our hands.
Going through financial struggles? Ask for prayer
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When I arrived home, Del was sitting in a chair in our living room just staring into space. I have never felt so inadequate in all my life! I sat down in his lap and we both started to cry. After we shed our tears (at least for that time) we prayed together. We acknowledged God’s sovereignty and plan for our lives, and we asked for His peace in the midst of all the uncertainty.
Thus began our journey – one that would change us both individually and also our marriage forever.
So as the wife of a man who no longer has somewhere to go everyday, where do you start in showing your support?
1. Teach him how to do the laundry!
We both recognized that, for the foreseeable future, Del would be available to help out more at home. He was always very willing to help me in whatever way I needed him – he just wasn’t always available. So, he asked me to show him how to do the laundry since he now had the time. I’ll always remember, during his first week at home, him leaving the dinner table upon hearing the dryer buzzer and announcing that he needed to go and “fold his towels!” Del was also able to help with the groceries, the morning school drop-offs, and with dentist and orthodontist appointments. I was so grateful for his willingness to help with my load. One caution in this area, though – do not give him so many things to do that he doesn’t have time to look for a job!
On a more serious note…
2. Encourage him!
There were many days when Del needed me to be his greatest encourager, while he struggled with thinking that he was not good enough to get a job to take care of his family. I needed to remind him how important he was to our family, how proud we were of him, and how much we loved him. He needed to be reminded that, just as we had prayed and acknowledged God’s sovereignty in those first few hours, it was God who was in control and He was worthy of our trust. God would open that door of employment for him when He knew best – which is also why it was so important to….
3. Pray for him!
What greater gift can I give to my husband than to pray for him; to commit him to the protection and care of the One who knows him more intimately than me, and who loves him even more than I ever could? Many times I would not know what to say to Del when he was feeling down or frustrated. I knew that his feelings were real, but I also knew that Satan wanted nothing more than to keep him feeling that way. Psalm 145:14 says “The Lord helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.” I often had to ask God to meet Del’s needs, because I knew I couldn’t!
4. Communicate with the kids!
Del losing his job affected the whole family, not just him. When Del lost his job, our children were 11 and 15 years of age. Any time that Del or I wanted to spend money, our 15-year-old son Ryan would tell us not to. He would say “I know it – we’re going to be living in a cardboard box!” Recognize the need to let the kids know how you are doing, as it is appropriate to their age. Tell them when Dad has a job interview, or even when he gets a call for a potential opportunity. And most of all, pray with your children. There were many nights we gathered as a family in our daughter Lauren’s room as she climbed into bed and prayed together. We would thank God once again for His provision and care for us, and ask again that He provide a job for Dad. On more than one occasion I heard Del thank God in prayer for doors that the Lord had closed when he was not chosen for a job, even after several interviews that looked very promising. Del was able to model to our kids the Scriptural principle that “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
5. Be willing to adjust!
As much as I needed to support my husband, his job loss did have its affect on me as well. Having had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom while the children were younger, and running my own accounting business as they got older, I am used to having time at home – by myself! All of the sudden I had my husband around constantly. Yes, it had its advantages with regards to his help, but it was just not normal.
I was used to my routines: getting lunches made, children to school, household chores done, getting out the door to see clients – all the things I had been doing for the past 17 years. But now Del was home in the mornings, and it always seemed we’d get into conversations about things right when I should have been heading out the door. And then I’d come home later in the day prepared to go about my usual routine (reading the mail/e-mails, making some phone calls, or exercising on the treadmill), only to find Del in our home office, working away on the computer. So I would spend some time with him and then start dinner early, as we no longer had to wait for him to get home.
I found myself longing for time on my own. It’s not that I didn’t love him and enjoy being with him, but I needed some time to myself once in a while. I found I was beginning to resent the fact that he was there all the time. But I also had to recognize and be sensitive to the fact that he did not want to be at home either. We both had to be willing to consider each other’s feelings in this matter.
6. Communicate with each other!
As a wife, a lot of my security and stability came from the fact that I had lived in the same place for the 20 years we had been married, my husband went to work everyday and earned an income to pay the mortgage and the bills, my children were happy in their schools, and I had family and friends all around me. Now it became apparent to me that all of that might change! Not only that, but I found myself wondering what Del was doing with his time – how hard was he looking for that job? Was he allowing other things (church involvement, household tasks, etc.) to interfere with his job searching? It was critical that we communicate with each other, so he knew how I was feeling and I wasn’t creating expectations for him that he did not know about.
7. Seek God together!
More than anything, though, this was the most important change that came for the both of us. Praying together as a couple was always a sporadic thing for us over the years. But when God brought this change and uncertainty to our lives, there was no question that we needed to draw together and especially pray together if we were going to make it through this. Now we pray about everything, whether it’s a decision to be made, or just about whatever we are feeling; we bring it before God together. We also pray together for one another. It’s a tremendous way to demonstrate our love for each other, and to feel like we are tackling the challenges of life as a team.
A few months after Del lost his job, God gave me a verse from the Bible that became my promise for this period of time we were going through. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”
I can’t say there weren’t tough days. It wasn’t always easy to keep trusting and believing that God had a plan for us. But in the end I knew God could be trusted and that He was faithful; that His plans were for our good and not to harm us. One of the greatest blessings that we have found in our journey of the last three years is that God has taken what we both knew to be true in our heads and has now imbedded it in our hearts. Sometimes the most important lessons in life are learned through our hardest trials.
Have you or someone you love lost their job? Talk to a mentor who can pray and support you through this time.
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Wow, does this post bring back painful memories. My husband and I went through this situation a few years ago and by-in-large, it was the most difficult thing I have seen my husband endure. When someone is a job defined person, it absolutely zaps the wind right out of that person, whether that person is the wife, husband, sister, daughter, or son. It’s demoralizing, demeaning and most definitely a confidence killer. For everyone here who is in this situation, please know, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Some days will be worse than others, but keep the faith; you will persevere. Eventually my husband did find work and a great job, at that.
For me, I vowed that I would take action to help others in need of work. I joined a job seeker group on Twitter and LinkedIn called HireFriday. I am one of a handful of volunteers who work every day to help the job seekers who are members of this group. HireFriday is not a job board and I’m not a recruiter, but I am a source of support to job seekers and sometimes a shoulder to lean on. Being a job helper has been a cathartic experience for me and my way of saying, “job seekers, we know you’re out there and you will not be forgotten.”
TT, I am sorry to hear about your husband’s recent job loss. I can’t imagine the strain. Would you like to have further prayer from one of our prayer mentors? I know for me it helps when I know someone else is fervently praying for my situation. If you like, you can fill out our prayer form with your prayer request and it will go to a prayer mentor with Power to Change.
Alma,
I am not married (in a serious relationship) but I would feel the same as you. It isn’t fair that he made those kind of changes in his life after you said vows to share your life and become one. One thing I do know is that finances are the number one reason people have marital problems. I suggest first talking with him honestly about your feelings over his decisions and if necessary, going to see a therapist. Often having an objective person as a mediator helps communication. If you are struggling and would like to talk to someone confidentially, Power to Change offers a mentoring program which is free and confidential. We have mentors who specialize in marriage issues. If you are interested, you can contact someone today.
My husband and I just got married on July 31, 2011…he had a job in Mississippi -I live in Atlanta(where he used to live)which was supposed to turn into ownership of a convenience store, when he found out there was not ownership, he quit his job making $52,000 per year gross, and moved back to Atlanta(in my house) and got a job as a waiter at Ruby Tuesday’a- he did not consult me about this decision, he also sells Real Estate on the side, but that income is minimal, he has to pay $1200 per month in child support….I feel resentful, as his plans changed, and he is not looking for a better job- he says he wants one, but needs me to find it for him….what do you guys think??
My husband lost his job in November 2009. We have spent all of his accumulated retirement and our savings, trying to make ends meet. I work full time and have since before we married (married 25+ years), but we are at the end of our rope. With each day that passes, i see another piece of him die. His name is Ben. Please pray that God will provide guidance and strength to endure the race set before us.
dear lou, i feel for you. tough, i am praying for you. god i pray for this family, teh husband is out of owrk, lead him to the job of your choosing and and be with lou this wife, lead her to the right job so she can work too continue to provide for them, i pray all of this in JESUS name amen.
My husband got a pink slip yesterday. He’s 52 and he’s an introvert so the process of looking for a job is going to be hard. Once he finds one, he is so hardworking and loyal. We have young children and I have been fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom and love it. I know I have to consider going back to work, but I do not know where to start. I’m starting a Novena to St. Joseph to intercede for our family. You all seem like praying women, I will put you in my prayers, please put me in yours.
Dear Anonymous – work hard at reminding yourself the truth. Consider God’s promises concerning you and the reality that He can not lie. This will help you manage fears and doubts and so will knowing that my husband has been unable to hold a job for any long term for what’s now 19 years and though we’ve felt at times as you do, by persevering and not giving up on God we have a strong faith and a more certain hope than we could have had if we hand’t suffered as we have, including losing our home to foreclosure in 1992. I felt all along that God was positioning my husband to go to work for himself. When the stock market crashed in 2008 he lost his job shortly there after. Finally he filed for a Limited Liability Corporation offering services as a consultant in the same industry that didn’t keep him on as an employee (in part because he’s a VP type and once he accomplished the initial goals, every one of them let him go and hired someone else for less). Could the Lord be leading your husband to serve as a consultant rather than a sales rep as owner of his own company? And about the kids – ours are now 25 and 22 and they are some of the most well adjusted people you’ll meet because they value hard work and the cost of living in contrast to so many people who live with an entitlement mentality. Your children will do fine so long as mom and dad express love and security as a family – not as a finance machine. The kids will respect their dad even more knowing that he did not give up and he persevered through tremendous obstacles. Continue as you are, seeking God, loving him and loving your family and know that God’s timing is always slower than ours. Even though my husband’s work is coming along nicely and growing more and more, it was still necessary for me to return to full time work as an employee to help – at age 55… Not something I wanted to do but here I am a year later and I can see God’s handiwork even in my having to take a job and the many things it’s now leading to. Try to look past the current situation and off into the horizon with the promises of God as your assurance.
My husband loses his job often (almost every year – we’ve been married over 10 years now). It’s depressing and shocking every time. He lost his job again 2 days ago. He is angry, and depressed because he put a lot of effort into making it work. His employers want instant results it seams(he’s in sales). He needs to find another career but can’t imaging what that would be. We have 2 young children, a mortgage, just bought a car, and a partially renovated basement (don’t have the money to finish the work), and we never go on a decent vacation. I have a very stressful job and the winds of change are blowing where I work also. It’s hard to believe God cares and has a good plan for us. Last time this happened to us, I felt so angry with God. I pray that this would not happen again and it always does. The last time this happened I got to the point of thinking God is not real and it scared me because I never felt that way before. Sometimes I wonder if my husband is cursed when it comes to his employment. We will manage but I’m tired of limping along. I want us to thrive and prosper and feel secure financially – but maybe our trust is more in our jobs than in God. Also, I worry about what this will do to our kids if the pattern continues and they get old enough to understand. Children should feel safe and secure, and proud of their father. He doesn’t know what else to do at this stage in life.
Praying for all of you!!
My husband lost his job last August…He finally just got a job offer with great pay/benefits..two days before starting the job he got denied the government clearance needed for the job.I know soon our house will be in foreclosure,as we are 4 months behind on the payment along with everything else.. we also have a 12 year old…We cant keep up anymore…We are just so hurt knowing two days away from feeling able to breath again and it was takin away..God bless everyone
Do you feel tired? We have only known of my husband’s lay-off for a week. In this past week, I have totally re-organized our budget, written a resume’ for my husband, and walked seven hours to pass out flyers to help one of my sons earn money to go to youth conference. In my “spare” time, I am still teaching school (research papers to grade), keep up the housework, and am learning how to fix EVERY meal since eating out is no longer an option. I’m not at all bitter, but very very tired! I am learning to pray all the time, and I am praying for many of you on this site who have endured this for MUCH longer than I have. I thought of posting on my facebook, but didn’t want to sound like whining, so thought that this would be a better place to “just say it.”
Pray and love to all of you!
Bless you Kim!
Please see my post dated October 16 in this thread. I know exactly how you feel. We were unemployed for 4 years and we’ve continued to suffer under and unemployment for years since. I offer help through my web site – most offered at no charge since money is not easily spent by those under and unemployed. I pray you find help in what I offer. [Comment redact by editor. Please read our Terms of Use]
Last night, my husband opened a letter from his company addressed to him. Since he works for a company based several states away, it is not unusual for him to receive letters. He opened the letter casually. Unfortunately, it stated that he was not being offered a contract for the next fiscal year. He has worked for this Christian textbook company for the past eight years. He has never taken a sick day or a personal day. He has traveled much of the time without a complaint. Now, it is all gone. I teach in a Christian school that is struggling financially. I’m trying not to be scared or hurt. I’m trying to lean on the Lord. I did find Psalm 145 this morning and read it–love the end portion of it! We sure could use any prayers that anyone has. I will pray for my Christian sisters who are in the same position. I didn’t know anything about you yesterday, but today my heart hurts with yours.
I have posted a few times on here and wanted to come back with a praise report. My husband has been laid off over a year. You can review my recent post to see what we recently went through. I am grateful that he started a new job. A home business that he used to do a couple of years ago, when he was working his other job. God has led him to revive the videography business and work it full-time. Since making that decsion, work has been coming in and God has confirmed that it was the right choice. This opportunity was right in front of us the whole time, be we needed to increase our faith to meet the assignment. Now we are walking by faith and trustin God to provide where he has led us. Be encouraged ladies.
Nancy, please do all you can to hold on. Please visit my web site specifically the section for under and unemployment. [Comment redacted Please see our Terms of Use]. If your husband would like a complimentary copy of my Transferrable Skills Evaluation, contact me from my web site and I’ll send it. He can use his existing skills to parlay into another industry, if he desires. I am personally well acquainted with this very difficult situation, which is explained on my site.
Bless you both – don’t dispair there is real and certain Hope.
My husband, age 55, has lost three jobs since November. The last
one was yesterday. He is very down and feels worthless. We are
on the verge of delving into our retirement to pay bills. He is
in the car business and it has been awful since the economic
turndown.
Amy, I am so sorry to hear about this sudden change of event for your family. You will be in my prayers. If you need someone to talk to further about this, Power to Change offers a mentoring program that is free and private. If you are interested, click here and a mentor will respond to you shortly.
Amy, be encouraged! praise God your husband is being strengthened by God and that he is not down about it! God has it in control so you do something for yourself so you don’t get consumed. Go work out, read a book, have some time out with friends so they can encourage you! YOU can’t allow your self to stay worried and scared. My husband has been out of work for over a year, and seems like he’s becoming an expert at applying for jobs and taking test for jobs! We are waiting and trusting God. It can be frustrating, but I notice that he truely needs my encouragement and prayers. It was hard for us to tell in-laws/family too but this is OUR trial, and we are confident God will see us through it. God may even use your family as a testimony for others to show how he can bring you through this. Be encouraged Amy and find opportunities for praise!
My husband was let go from his job of 5 years last Friday. I have felt a spectum of emotions. I feel frustrated with God…I never took for grantite the blessing of having employment. I would thank God often for our jobs and pray for those who were unemployed and looking for jobs. Now we are the unemployed. My faith is being tested. I feel so lonely. I cannot share our situation with my parents (as I could really use their support) because they will make our stress harder on us because I know they will be disappointed. We have 3 kids (4,8 and 12). They are all healthy – Thank you Lord. I am scared, worried and anxiety filled. I recognize that this shows weakness in my faith, but I am so depressed and overwhelmed I feel like I cannot even pray at times. I feel numb. My husband is much more positive than me. He continues to give me hugs and reassure me that everything will be okay. Our situation could be worse – my prayer is that this is only temporary.
My husband just lost his job. I have been praying for over a year very faithfully since we were aware that layoffs could happen. My husband is a professional and has been looking faithfully but nothing at all. It is quite unsettling. My job could be ending in the near future as well. We have 4 kids – 2 of them will be in university in Sept. It is the most expensive time of our lives and this loss has been devastating. I pray so faithfully but do confess that it feels like God is so far away or very silent with us at this time. I have offered prayer for all of you and pray that God will bless your husbands or yourselves with jobs and the finanical provision you need. In the mean time, I pray that He will give you signs of hope as you wait on Him. God bless!
Congratulations to you and your husband Vickie! God has honored your faithfulness to stay when others thought you should go! My husband is still looking for work and as I have bee praying for him, I’m lifting up others who are praying for their husbands to find work. I know God will supply in his perfect way. Thank you Vickie for sharing….it confirms that God continues to show his mercy and lovingkindness.
Hi again. Just wanted to give an update. My husband found a job! We are so thankful! Happy New Year!
Lighting strikes twice!! My husband who is a professional with an MBA was just let go yesterday for budget reasons. He lost his job before less than 2 years ago on May 5 2009. That year we both turned 40 and celebrated 10 years together. We were happy to see 2009 end. Now just as a mentioned to a neighbor 2011 is going tone a good year- this happens. I am so confused, sad, angry, my brain is fried. The first time I never broke down and remained strong for 4 months when he started work again. I had faith and knew everything would be ok. This time I’m a mess and scared. We only have enough to cover for 3 months. I’m worried about it all. Cannot believe we are on this rollercoaster again!! I keep searching for the lesson in all this. Could be worse- we are all healthy- us and 3 kids 10 and under. So I got up today and was thankful for the sunshine and that I can walk but I am a mess of tears!!
Wow this was right on time for me. Thank you Racene for your comment. My husband has been out of work for almost a year and it is starting to take a toll on him. He has been fighting an upper respiratory/sinus infection for about a month and I’m convinced his immune system is low due to the fight agains stress/depression. I confessed it to him this morning and he didn’t deny it. He is highly qualified and is very close to getting a new job, but we have been waiting almost 2 months for this place to call for the interview. The waiting is almost like torture!! I believe God is able and that we are blessed with favor- I still have my job, our children are well and God continues to supply our needs. I will take heed to your encouragement and COME BACK TO SHARE THE VICTORY!! I BELIVE!
There is hope in King Jesus!!
My husband lost his job since April of this year, when I was reading the article I was wondering who told this lady my story! I felt she was telling my story. Just have been a stay at home mom for the last 10 years, I have 4 kids. Just as my husband lose his job I asked the lord for a job and he gave me a job I wasnt even qualified for. However, since the bills are so much, it really cant reach…but I have a feeling everything is gonna be alright!! He bible says NONE that trust in him shall be desolate!! I have hope!! Keep the faith ladies!! I will be ok. and when things start working for you come back and leave your story! I will come back and leave mine…
I’m 35 years old and on my 2nd marriage. We have been married for over a year. He has depression and just got fired from his job. I myself have been getting depressed..taking sleeping pills & anxiety pills. How do I support him and myself? How do I deal with my anger? I have people who tell me to stay with him and support him, others tell me I need to tell him to move out. I’m confused…if I was in his shoes, I would hope he would be there for me.
i am so very lost. i tried to keep my foot in the door as a nurse, one day every 2 weeks or even once a month. my husband insisted i stay home. i should not have. now he is jobless after 21 yrs. and we have an 11 yr old little girl. he is getting bad advice (from his mom and big sister), to stay home and rest. all of a sudden i am expected to take over, not only do i not want to, but i don’t think it is in his best interest, nor am i physically able to do what i did 12 yr ago. I don’t want to see our family destroyed, I so do not know what to. do.
Reggie, you will make it if you belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. I know exactly what you’re going through as we’ve been under and unemployed for 19 years and we lost our house to foreclosure. I have found some practical helps in this very difficult walk of life. Please visit my blog at http://www.squidoo.com/WhatYouDontKnow
My husband lost his job in 2009, no unemployment, no insurance and a child who is diabetic. How can I reassure him that it is going to be alright, when I don’t believe it myself? I am at the end of my rope, I have no more.
dear maureen [sorry i cudn get ur email id here hence a post]
i understand your problem very well… for my mother who is in her 50s is hoping for a new start and my best friend walked out of her husband and is living with a bachlor on a new hope – they have one common story – the xs werent good enough and they are struggling thru finiancial messes. i am sorry but why i site their lives is cos i understand that finance and emotions co-exist. when they are in a perfect balance its all happy and good… if one of them is out of control the other trips automatically. even if u wr earning 50 per cent less than what you earn now if your liabilities were lesser you would be able to meet them right!? perhaps would be happier with lesser stresses. pls do not get me wrong when i ask you to offload your liabilities… financial ones… by confronting them as practically as possible and not walking off your partner another time even if this time it might be his lack of complete self that is the main point of concern. this is a tough phase… u will overcome it if u let it die out by staying strong for eachother. this is the test u have to pass. trust me u will. pray together in peace and rethink ur current expenses without comparing ur past or somebody else’s present. life is good. with or without money. u have to just tune urself to happiness to find that.
good luck.
babloo
actually I was interested to see if roop would email me. My husband is also 52 and we have been together since I was 18. Thought we might have more in common and could support each other
To R: Are you wanting to exchange email addresses with PamChristian or “Pam”?
Pam are we allowed to exchange email addresses on this site? It would be nice to talk to others personally. We are going thru a very dark time as a result of job loss. Roop is my age and I would like to email her if that is permissable.
My husband lost his job in 2008.Although God was very kind to have given us unemployment benefits,the frustration of not having anything to do is killing us.I love my husband to death.We have known each other since we were sixteen and now at 52 I dont know where we are going.Not having a job is taking away his self confidence and I dont know how to help.The article was helpful to an extent.But everyday reality is another thing.Any support groups in NY area?
Thank you all for sharing, in your sharing I attempt to find comfort and strength to push forward.
As Maureen, I too have recently married for a second time. When my husband and I met he had a decent paying job and so did I. Several months before the wedding he lost his job resulting in me paying the balance off for the wedding and honeymoon. Nearly two years later he has not landed gainful employment. He works at a very low paying job 12 hours a day that only yields enough money to pay his child support from his previous marriage. I on the other hand have to pay all the bills including his car insurance and cell phone bill since we joined our accounts together. This has caused a great deal of stress for me and I have began questioning our marriage. My children see him as a liability and I have to admit sometimes I feel the same way. I love him and I’ve tried to support him in all the ways that I know how…however I am starting to resent him and not sure how to make it stop. Typically when we try discussing the issue it results in an argument with no resolve.
This article is a blessing. My husband was laid off right before Christmas. He had been at his job for 7 years and although he liked what he was doing, the hours (2nd shift) were inconveninet. Now he is able to do more to help out at home and he has been a blessing. However it bothers us both that I am up and gone to work everyday and he is not. I am very proud of him and continue to pray for him as he keeps his head up and continues to trust God. I recently made myself stop looking for employement for him. It was stressing me out. God showed me that he has a plan for him and I am to pray and encourage him.
Jenni and all, how my heart aches with yours. I know exactly what you’re going through. Jenni, I have also been unable to collect UE insurance for being self-employed. How can you reinvent yourself? I can provide you a complimentary “Transferrable Skills Discovery” quiz if you like. Do you know about One Stop Career Centers? I have a ministry specifically to help people in your situation. First and foremost is for you to will your mind to dwell only on truth. God is our provider. He merely allows us to participate in the process. We must look to Him and seek His provision. I have seen miracles, even concerning college tuition. Your faith is being tried now and it’s up to you if you want to be found strong. It takes a lot of deliberate work to concentrate on the character, intentions and will of God for you in contrast to the condemning, defeating voice. But if you truly want to find God to be all you hope Him to be, seek Him with your whole heart, for then He promises you shall find Him. You are in my prayers.
It isn’t my husband that lost his job…it is me. As a self-employed person my business suddenly dried up due to cuts in budgets. I’m not eligible for unemployment benefits due to being self-employed. I am finding a faith that I thought was strong is hard to tune into. I’m so depressed. We have a son that is a freshman in college and another going to college in less than 2 years….and always told them we’d help them with schooling. Right now, every day is a huge struggle…I can hardly get the laundry done or meals on the table. I feel like God is so far away right now….
I know exactly how you guys fell. my husband lost his job in 2008 . thank god i have a full time job . he has been taking some odd jobs but all them are like temp positions. I am also working working on weekends ( part time job ). as of today we have 25,000 credit card debt .my income can barely cover mortgage , car payment , insurance , utilities , food , condo fees. Dont know what to do …. I am so depressed…..
My husband just lost his job!!!! Its so crazy!!! I myself just started a new job !!! Ice been out of work because I just had a baby !!! So when things start looking good for us my husband looses his job!!! We are a young couple 24 and 27 and only 3 years married with a 3 year old and 6 month old!!! I know God will provide but I’m so scared ………… I asked God why is but things could be worst ……… I know my God has a bigger plan for my husband and girls! Keep me in. Your preyera if you read this
Bless you. I know the shock, fear and anxiety you are experiencing. I know how these responses can overcome you too. When my husband lost his job in the early 90′s my children were 3 and 6. In fact, because of our experience, (we were unemployed for what turned out to be 4 years and we lost everything including our home to foreclosure and the continued under/unemployment since)I can’t help but help others going through the same.
I invite you to join me as I host Christian Women Today’s chat this month on this topic, Wednesdays 6:00 PM Pacific Time at http://www.christianwomentoday.com Click on chat under the header and then follow the promptings.
You will also find help with my blog http://www.squidoo.com/WhatYouDontKnow It was created as part of my effort to help others. I am a broadcaster, writer and speaker (see http://www.pamelachristianministries.com) so I developed a course with Workbook and presented it at my church. It was so successful that I then made it into a day long intensive presented 7/20/09, open to the public, which was a tremendous success. I hope to present the day-long intensive all over the states and Canada. I don’t charge for presenting so that those who need the information can attend at no cost. More at http://www.wydk.org
I have already prayed for you, dear sister. The first thing you (and everyone) must do, is to get your emotions and thoughts lined up with truth or you will be overcome and not able to properly tend your children or support your husband. I help people learn how to do this and the many other next best steps to successfully cope with this crisis, emotionally, practically and spiritually.
On my blog you will find free resources and tips and a whole lot more as I continue to post. My heart and compassion are truly with you, wanting to see you and your family overcome this for the glory of God and not the victory of the enemy. Work hard at keeping your eyes on God and His truth.
I’m still in shock right now, my husband just lost his job. I am scared and I don’t know what to do. We have a 6 year old and a 4 year old, we have checks coming and we are mortgage. I have a job but it’s not enough to provide for the whole family.
Help me what to do to lessen the fall of this devastating news.
Thanks
I married for the second time 2 years ago. My husband had a travel job when we met – only here on the weekend. For the marriage & because he was sick of it he switched. He worked for that company for a year before they fired him this past april ( fired – not called for 0 they way to lay off). Now this year no work. Did you read where I said this is a new marriage. Let me tell you also that we are in our early 50′s . I am devestated. My dream relationship is turning into nothing but stress and tension. I work full time but can not cover his bills. We have an apartment together and I can not cover his half of the expenses. We live pay check to pay check. I have no savings – do not judge me. My first marriage distroyed me and took my home because of the problems the x brought to me. I was hopeful to be happy now. I am losing hope.
Advice – I need support. It is ok to email me.
It is good to know that there are other women who feel the same way. My husband has been laid off for a month now. He had only been back to work for eight months. I have been a full time stay at home mom and have been homeschooling the past 6 years. I have taken on several part-time jobs to help. I get my strength from God. Where He guides He provides. We need to lean on Him.
I was blessed to find this site, my guy was laid off three weeks ago, I was a stay at home mom for the last two years, and I felt like my world was crashing down, my faith was the only thing keeping us positive.. I began applying for jobs and because of the two year gap I haven’t heard back from anyone…. I just keep praying and believing in God’s Word… Bless you all you will be in my prayers as I hope we will be in yours…
My husband of 24 years lost his job in July 2008. I have been a stay at home Mom for 16 years and we are struggling. God is so good to provide us His love through our small group at church and friends and families prayers. Hang in there all of you who are going through these tough economical times. I think God wants to use all of us to reach out to others with integrity and love. Thanks for this wonderful article!
thank you
thank you so much for sharing your story my husband lost his job of 19yrs. and i will help support him and our family he is looking for work. i love my husband of 32yrs. and he has supported me in so many ways example both of my parents died, tragic death of my young brother, and other wounderful things my husband is more than a job i love him no matter what he is my life and i thank God for him
Lori,
I read this at a moment where I felt…feel things are falling apart. My husband lost his job 6 months ago and everything you went through or are going through seems to hit home. I am a teacher in a Lutheran school…not the “bread winner” by any means. I worry about my husband he is losing faith with every rejection. Some days it’s hard to be the cheerleader…some days I just want to cry…(today is one of those days). Thanks for speaking from your heart.
Patty