Every time I think of looking for work I get this fear and dread, and someone saying No, don't I don't want you to get a job. I figure its from God, but I don't want to be homeless. I know Jesus was homeless and many other disciples doing Gods work, I have been jobless for 3 weeks now, and I get this spiritual premonition that if I do it will be bad and I will suffer more then what I already am suffering. I am sick of suffering and I can't deal with it for much longer, I have so much anger and hate even, I catch myself asking God why He is doing this to me or letting it happen, my hope is dying and I am so overcome with sadness and I keep hearing I am a fool, and stupid, and so many other torments. I am lonely as well, so being 34 and single and this much pain makes me also think I will never find a suitable wife, I feel so trapped. My options are suffer from homelessness, loneliness, and not knowing what to eat, OR work and suffer from a worse future, loneliness, and farther separation from God.
God says not to get a job?
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I have prayed about a job and been steered away from specific workplaces, but for God to say not to get ANY job... that would go against the Bible.
I remember a conversation between myself and a coworker.
HIM: Boy I sure didn't want to come to work today. I even talked to the good Lord about it.
ME: That wouldn't do any good. God wouldn't tell you something that goes against what the Bible says.
HIM: Okay, what's the Bible say about it?
ME: Well it says if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat.
HIM: But I been working for thirty-five years!
ME: Yeah and you been eating for thirty-five years. You want to quit both of those now?
HIM: Man... Isaac... You're a hard man to talk to!
I remember a conversation between myself and a coworker.
HIM: Boy I sure didn't want to come to work today. I even talked to the good Lord about it.
ME: That wouldn't do any good. God wouldn't tell you something that goes against what the Bible says.
HIM: Okay, what's the Bible say about it?
ME: Well it says if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat.
HIM: But I been working for thirty-five years!
ME: Yeah and you been eating for thirty-five years. You want to quit both of those now?
HIM: Man... Isaac... You're a hard man to talk to!
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I'm not so sure that's God, but there's not much to go on here for me to make a determination. Is there a mature spiritual mentor in your life that you can discuss this with? What I am pretty sure of would be that God is not calling you to be idle, so if you aren't supposed to take a regular job, God still has something for you to do. But it sounds like all you really have is a paralyzing fear and dread and vicious insulting voices in your head. That sounds more like the devil is having a field day than God doing anything. Or maybe more likely that not having a job for several weeks is discouraging and you're starting to suffer from the discouragement and despair that commonly go along with that. How would work give you a worse future and loneliness?
You say you feel trapped, but ultimately it's up to you whether you're going to just give up and quit trying because you feel like you're in a trap or if you're going to keep trying to escape and get your life back. You don't have to do that alone, but you do have to find the gumption to get started and ask for what help you may need.
Also, when I was really burned out and in a similar place, the best advice I received that helped me get out of it was to find something to be thankful for every day and just take a minute or two to acknowledge that I had much to be thankful for. I guess it's just hard to stay down while counting your blessings.
You say you feel trapped, but ultimately it's up to you whether you're going to just give up and quit trying because you feel like you're in a trap or if you're going to keep trying to escape and get your life back. You don't have to do that alone, but you do have to find the gumption to get started and ask for what help you may need.
Also, when I was really burned out and in a similar place, the best advice I received that helped me get out of it was to find something to be thankful for every day and just take a minute or two to acknowledge that I had much to be thankful for. I guess it's just hard to stay down while counting your blessings.
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Hmm, well this helps a little and no I do not have a mentor in my life. I think about other people who have left all behind and lived off faith, while doing Gods work. a example are some people in the YouTube channel "A voice in the desert". Lately my fire to share the gospel has been on burnout mode ever since my last job, I was working 48 to 56 hours a week doing hard labor for a playground company. I don't know maybe more prayer and a good fast might help me here, because I do feel guilty for eating whether I am working or not.
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
(John 9:4 KJV)
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
(Philippians 2:12)
(John 9:4 KJV)
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
(Philippians 2:12)
You feel guilty for eating? Why? Are you the kind of person who is always feeling guilty about something?
We're all called to live by faith, but for most of us that means we hold down a job and we show up on time and work hard and treat our employers and co-workers fairly, and to find the good of God in our lives rather than the things to complain about. I have to agree that there is something to the idea that extreme circumstances (need, danger, or anything that makes you feel desperate) can make you feel more aware of your dependence on God, but I'm not sure how much of that is emotion and stress hormones and how much of that is real spiritual growth.
What I do know from my own experience is that "leaving all behind and living off faith" isn't the best way for everyone to share Jesus with the world. I was an aspiring missionary for about a decade after college which meant time spent between this or that short term mission assignment and time at home working whatever job I could get on a temporary basis. So I had seasons of little to no income because I was pursuing God's work. But ultimately what I found was that my definition of faith and God's work got very skewed, so that when I returned 3 years ago and still to this day, I wonder what faith looks like in normal everyday life. So I'm no longer sure that a radical lifestyle is the best testimony for God, I'm starting to think that perhaps a better testimony is to live in the same circumstances as those you're trying to reach and acting / reacting completely differently in those circumstances. And one of the things I'd define as a characteristic of faith is that it overcomes FOMO (Fear of missing out). So these days faith for me looks like keeping an even keel in a world that tries to sensationalize everyone into panic and not being rushed into something for fear of missing out on an opportunity. And it looks like showing up at church and giving even when I don't really feel like it. Sometimes I do miss the intensity of that past life, but I'm not less spiritual because I'm less stressed. I'm not saying I'm a model Christian, but some of that is because I'm not even sure what the truly ideal Christian should look like anymore.
We're all called to live by faith, but for most of us that means we hold down a job and we show up on time and work hard and treat our employers and co-workers fairly, and to find the good of God in our lives rather than the things to complain about. I have to agree that there is something to the idea that extreme circumstances (need, danger, or anything that makes you feel desperate) can make you feel more aware of your dependence on God, but I'm not sure how much of that is emotion and stress hormones and how much of that is real spiritual growth.
What I do know from my own experience is that "leaving all behind and living off faith" isn't the best way for everyone to share Jesus with the world. I was an aspiring missionary for about a decade after college which meant time spent between this or that short term mission assignment and time at home working whatever job I could get on a temporary basis. So I had seasons of little to no income because I was pursuing God's work. But ultimately what I found was that my definition of faith and God's work got very skewed, so that when I returned 3 years ago and still to this day, I wonder what faith looks like in normal everyday life. So I'm no longer sure that a radical lifestyle is the best testimony for God, I'm starting to think that perhaps a better testimony is to live in the same circumstances as those you're trying to reach and acting / reacting completely differently in those circumstances. And one of the things I'd define as a characteristic of faith is that it overcomes FOMO (Fear of missing out). So these days faith for me looks like keeping an even keel in a world that tries to sensationalize everyone into panic and not being rushed into something for fear of missing out on an opportunity. And it looks like showing up at church and giving even when I don't really feel like it. Sometimes I do miss the intensity of that past life, but I'm not less spiritual because I'm less stressed. I'm not saying I'm a model Christian, but some of that is because I'm not even sure what the truly ideal Christian should look like anymore.
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Yes I would say I feel like something is wrong all the time, sometimes I was getting so stressed out and inflicted with things going on in my mind that I would have bouts of anger that were even self harming. I was on a good path I thought I was evangelizing and fellowshipping, bibles study's, Church, eating healthy, learning to live minimally, and live less wasteful. Then it hit me, my thoughts started to change I wanted to settle down and have a wife. Then came the bad thoughts, imaginations, visions, feelings that I was uncomfortable with. I knew it wasn't good and I would hear, "if you do this, it'll get worse" and behold!! It has. The more I talk about it the worse it gets sometimes, I don't even like talking to people at all anymore. It is like God told me not to speak since I don't believe his promises if I had only obeyed.
Where in the bible does it say that Jesus was homeless?
I am fairly certain that it is not God that is telling you not to get a job. It appears you may have job anxiety which hinders your employment. Other for being jobless for 3 weeks how is your work record otherwise. It says in the bible the those that don't work or refuse to work will have scarcity come upon them. I would say that if you want to find a suitable wife a good start would be to find a job and be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the job, and eventually advance to a higher paying position or, after a period of time, a better job. You are not really separated from God as He is there beside you. He is probably telling you to get with the program. I will say a prayer for your situation but it does not appear to be hopeless at all. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.
I am fairly certain that it is not God that is telling you not to get a job. It appears you may have job anxiety which hinders your employment. Other for being jobless for 3 weeks how is your work record otherwise. It says in the bible the those that don't work or refuse to work will have scarcity come upon them. I would say that if you want to find a suitable wife a good start would be to find a job and be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the job, and eventually advance to a higher paying position or, after a period of time, a better job. You are not really separated from God as He is there beside you. He is probably telling you to get with the program. I will say a prayer for your situation but it does not appear to be hopeless at all. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.
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I read somewhere in the Bible if you don't work you don't eat...and all over proverbs it says bad things about laziness and procrastination......
2 Thessalonians 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
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When we aren’t being productive, we have too much time on our hands. “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.”
One can have a job and still be involved at a local fellowship or volunteer in ministry. Wherever God has us, we can minister to those around us. I work at an office, 8 to 5. I play in the music team at my local fellowship. It can be done. Time management is important.
God wants us to be responsible. This fear you speak of isn’t from the Lord.
One can have a job and still be involved at a local fellowship or volunteer in ministry. Wherever God has us, we can minister to those around us. I work at an office, 8 to 5. I play in the music team at my local fellowship. It can be done. Time management is important.
God wants us to be responsible. This fear you speak of isn’t from the Lord.
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The people who have responded here have already given sound, Biblical advice...
I just wanted to pop in and say that I can see why the OP thinks that Jesus was homeless.
When a scribe bragged that he would follow Jesus wherever He went, Jesus replied to Him, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." (Matthew 8:19-20).
In the accounts I have read, this meant that Jesus apparently had no permanent home--He and His disciples move around and stayed with whoever would take them in and provide for them at the time.
This does not mean, however, that Jesus did not have a job--His occupation was preaching and teaching--and the Bible says the the laborer is worth their wages (1 Timothy 5:18).
Similarly, Paul moved from place to place, preaching and teaching wherever he went, but he too had a skilled craft--he was a tent maker, and used this work to help support his lifestyle (Acts 18:1-4).
Paul even states that he and his companions labored and toiled so that they would not be a burden to those they were staying with.
Likewise, God wants everyone do to their part, as they are able to, as well.
I just wanted to pop in and say that I can see why the OP thinks that Jesus was homeless.
When a scribe bragged that he would follow Jesus wherever He went, Jesus replied to Him, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." (Matthew 8:19-20).
In the accounts I have read, this meant that Jesus apparently had no permanent home--He and His disciples move around and stayed with whoever would take them in and provide for them at the time.
This does not mean, however, that Jesus did not have a job--His occupation was preaching and teaching--and the Bible says the the laborer is worth their wages (1 Timothy 5:18).
Similarly, Paul moved from place to place, preaching and teaching wherever he went, but he too had a skilled craft--he was a tent maker, and used this work to help support his lifestyle (Acts 18:1-4).
Paul even states that he and his companions labored and toiled so that they would not be a burden to those they were staying with.
Likewise, God wants everyone do to their part, as they are able to, as well.
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Well thank you all for responding, for the homeless statement I was thinking of the passage "foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head." My work record is patchy for the most part, but some of the reasons are due to me leaveing a job for a missionary thing that went terribly wrong, and a dying business, also I worked at a local shop that sold pagan tarot cards, spiritual rocks, and other things I was uncomfortable with being involved in, but I will admit my anxiety of work was in the middle of all of that as well.
A few passages do come to mind though, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
I don't want to complain or sound like I am, but this is a serious issue for me, I suppose deep prayer and standing on biblical truths are the only true solution. I also do not want to go against my own conscience I believe that is a bad thing as well, I know I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, but I know I don't have peace in the sense of my lacking faith and obedience.
Please forgive me if this seems dark or anything I just figured there would be other who can relate or have good advice.
A few passages do come to mind though, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
I don't want to complain or sound like I am, but this is a serious issue for me, I suppose deep prayer and standing on biblical truths are the only true solution. I also do not want to go against my own conscience I believe that is a bad thing as well, I know I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, but I know I don't have peace in the sense of my lacking faith and obedience.
Please forgive me if this seems dark or anything I just figured there would be other who can relate or have good advice.
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