Q: I am 53 and at the moment I am unemployed. At times I actually feel as though I am unemployable. It seems as though my wife has lost respect for me because the money just is not flowing in like it use to. At this point in life I just feel as though I should be much further ahead. I have always been a great employee and family man. Finding the balance was always easy for me. Now, I am fighting deep feelings of inadequacy. I don't feel needed. My relationship with God has even grown stagnant. And I ask myself almost daily, "Does He even care?" Please help. What do I do with these feelings?

A: There are days when I feel discouraged or down hearted because I haven't accomplished enough or I don't feel I've lived up to my potential. I can relate to what you're feeling. My moods can be from one end to the other in just one day. Life can seem out of my control on certain days and I keep wishing I could find the solution to smooth out life and enjoy more days of consistent happiness.

Well, I may have found it. Lately I've been trying to align my beliefs completely with God's little by little. What I have discovered is that when I take just a few of my favorite Bible verses, memorize them and repeat them back to God over and over during the day, my moods stay more consistent and I do find more joy and freedom inside.

Here's what I have been doing. I memorized Romans 8:38, 39. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Then I looked up all of the words that are reflections of love: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (I Corinthians 13:4-8). What I found is this type of thinking based on my new beliefs about God's love.

• He is always admiring me no matter what I do.
• He cares deeply for me no matter what I'm doing.
• He forgives me
• He accepts me
• He adores me
• His mercies toward me are new every day.
• He is kind to me
• He is patient with me
• He serves me daily
• He gave himself for me

The idea is that He is my life. He is everything I will ever need and He is all things to me. Nothing else will ever give me more than what He is. My job, career or calling will never come close to meeting my needs like He does.

My friend, you do not get your identity from what you do, but rather from who you are. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. He is all you need.

Start by writing down all that you believe about God. Meditate on who He is. By renewing your mind with God's Word, you will experience life change.

Blessings,
Gary

© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center

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