Between Jobs, Surrounded by God’s Presence

In the summer of 2023, Adam left his job at an organization where he had worked for over a decade. He received two promotions, the second one into a senior leadership position there. His role focused on training and development for staff and the thousands of people his organization served. When he resigned, he stepped away from a role he had grown to love and relationships that encouraged and motivated him to do his best work.

When I spoke to Adam in the fall of 2024, he still hadn’t found a new job. This season of transition was dragging on way longer than he expected. His job search yielded one dashed hope after another. He told me, “This sort of suffering is excruciating.”

Millions of Discouraged Job Seekers

I wish I could say Adam’s experience is unique, but he’s not alone. Millions of people around the world are in the same boat. In August 2024, Gallup reported that 51% of U.S. employees are currently looking for a job other than the one they have. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 6.8 million people in the U.S. were unemployed in September 2024. That means they were not employed, were available for work, and had actively looked for work in the past four weeks. BLS also tracks what they call “discouraged workers” – those who are not currently employed but haven’t looked for a job in the past four weeks because they’ve faced discouragement in the job search process.

Reflecting on my past job searches, the experiences of my friends and loved ones, and the statistics above, I’d say that the number of truly discouraged job seekers is probably in the tens of millions. I think of those who currently have jobs but want to leave them, those who have been laid off or fired, and those who have resigned but haven’t found a new position yet. Their mental and emotional anguish is real: not finding jobs that seem like a good fit for their skills and training, being overlooked by application screening tools powered by AI, enduring multiple rounds of interviews, and being ghosted by potential employers. It’s too much.

God’s Presence in the Valley

For Christians, long seasons of waiting can feel like deep, dark valleys. When we don’t find a new job quickly, we may worry about our finances; question our worth; doubt God’s love; and lose our sense of calling. We may even plummet into a dark night of the soul. It can be hard to remember that God is at work in these transition seasons. A story in 1 Kings reminds us that God is with us in the good times and bad.

When we don’t find a new job quickly, we may worry about our finances; question our worth; doubt God’s love; and lose our sense of calling. We may even plummet into a dark night of the soul.

Ahab sat on the throne of Israel. Never had there been a king as evil as him. During Ahab’s reign, the Arameans attacked Israel. Israel prevailed, but a prophet warned Ahab that Aram would attack Israel again. As Aram prepared for war, the king’s advisors told him that they would be more successful if they fought Israel in the valley: “‘Their gods are gods of the hills, so they were stronger than we, but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they’” (1 Kings 20:23, NRSV).

Historically, Israel had succeeded in defending the high country and yet struggled against their enemies in the valleys. When they entered the Promised Land, God called the tribe of Judah to fight against the Canaanites. The Book of Judges records, “The Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country but could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had chariots of iron” (1:19). God was with the Israelites on the hills and in the valleys, when they were successful and when they failed.

God was with the Israelites on the hills and in the valleys, when they were successful and when they failed.

This time, Israel would win in the valley. A prophet told Ahab, “‘Because the Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys,’ therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord’” (1 Kings 20:28, NRSV). “The God of the mountain / Is the God of the valley.” That’s how Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship’s song “Graves into Gardens” puts it.

Mercy and Goodness All Around Us

God is present with us at our highest highs and lowest lows. King David knew this to be true. He encountered Goliath in the Valley of Elah. David hid from King Saul in the cave of Adullum. At times he wondered if God had forsaken him (Psalm 22:1). Yet David wrote,

“Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?”
“If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8, NRSV)

He was convinced of God’s presence with him no matter where he went.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, NRSV)

Psalm 23 paints a picture of a fierce and loving leader who accompanies us all the days of our lives–from green pastures and quiet waters to dark valleys. The Good Shepherd leads and restores. His rod and staff are a comfort in the darkness–guidance and protection when we feel most vulnerable, most alone. His goodness and mercy follow us. We are hemmed in by our Savior on every side when we’re in the in-between places.

Remembering God’s Presence

God’s presence with us fills our hearts with courage. God’s presence reminds us that we’re not alone. We have the creator of the universe on our side. Even when things don’t go our way or the timing isn’t what we would prefer, our loving God is with us, looking out for us.

Recall what God commanded Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land: “‘Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go’” (Joshua 1:9, NRSV). Before he told her that she would be the mother of God’s one and only son, the angel told Mary, “‘The Lord is with you’” (Luke 1:28, NRSV). When he commissioned his disciples after his resurrection, Jesus said to them, “‘And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

If we find ourselves in between jobs, perhaps God’s presence will give us the courage to wait just a little longer, write one more cover letter, and sit through one more interview. Perhaps God’s presence will bring us peace, assuring us that God is at work around us and within us, even when we cannot see.

If we find ourselves in between jobs, perhaps God’s presence will give us the courage to wait just a little longer, write one more cover letter, and sit through one more interview.

A Playlist for Presence

In addition to turning to Scripture, I often listen to music that helps me remember God’s presence with me in difficult moments. Perhaps these songs will encourage you if you find yourself in a dark valley or long season of transition.

“Graves into Gardens” – Elevation Worship
“Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy”) – Shane and Shane
“Psalm 23 (I am Not Alone)” – by Joshua Sherman, recorded by Josue Avila / People and Songs
“Way Maker” – Leeland
“The Kingdom is Yours” – by Dee Wilson (BMI), Brittney Spencer (BMI), Micah Massey (ASCAP), Aaron Keyes (ASCAP), recorded by Common Hymnal
“Goodness of God” – CeCe Winans
“The Story I’ll Tell” – Naomi Raine