Agnes Olubunmi Amos calls her book, The Journey of a Christian Job Seeker: Conquering Your Emotions & Fears Through Life’s Trials," a "Book of Psalms for Job Seekers." Daily journaling and meditation throughout a 15-month period of job seeking yielded this epistle that is much more than a devotional. Included with the journal entries, Amos provides a thought, a meditation and an affirmation that will keep job seekers motivated.
When unemployment strikes, whether the result of being laid off, resigning prematurely, or even being let go because of someone’s perceived "lack of fit," no one would say being jobless is fun. Still, Amos convinces us unemployment can be a gift from God. Her journal entries demonstrate the rewards of being honest with God and determination to trust Him. There are also sections on résumé preparation and how to find God's will for your career.
Thoughts, Meditations, Affirmations
Each journal entry contains a thought, a meditation and an affirmation. In the "Let Us Reason Together" section, Amos gives a thought-provoking admonition, such as praising God in time of crisis, thinking about who God is and about His faithfulness, or not letting negative emotions take over. She also asks you questions such as whether or not you are letting this experience draw you closer to God.
A miniature Bible study called "Drink From the Fountain," gives encouragement with a Bible reference. For example, the one for Nov. 5, 2007, reminds you God’s will for you is peace, but the enemy (Satan) wants to steal that peace from you. Every biblical principle contains a Scripture reference, in this case, John 14:27, containing the admonition, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Its affirmation is, "I am at peace."
Journal Entries, Honest Expressions of Authentic Emotion
In the journal entries themselves, Amos describes her journey that first began while still employed in an executive capacity. Her friends and family failed to understand why she wanted to leave such a good job. She explained she felt God calling her to greatness. Implicit in her message to the reader are the words, "And so are you."
Amos remained employed for 13 months of her job seeking journey, but resigned a week before "the stock market crashed in the United States," a move she acknowledged as "poorly timed." Nonetheless, and there’s another lesson, even when we make mistakes, God is still with us, promising strength, guidance and provision.
Navigate Unemployment With God, Be Encouraged
The Journey of a Christian Job Seeker by Agnes Olubunmi Amos honestly portrays the difficult emotional journey of a believer seeking to follow Jesus in the area of employment. The author invites readers to think and meditate in God’s word, to affirm biblical truth and to trust in God’s faithfulness and provision.
Source:
- Amos, Agnes Olubunmi, The Journey of a Christian Job Seeker: Conquering Your Emotions & Fears Through Life’s Trials, 2009. Available at www.journeyofachristianjobseeker.com
Carolyn Cogswell - Carolyn Cogswell has written for publication in newspapers in southeast Missouri, southeast and northeast Kansas and is working on a ...
Join the Conversation