Hi Paul,
I have made it a habit of admitting to the jobless, sick, or grieving person that I have no adequate words, other than that I really care about the person and his or her situation. For people of faith, I try to assure them that my prayers will be intense and earnest. There is a professor at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA, who, when she found out I was ill, told me that her prayers for me would be “fierce”. One blessing of being ill (yes, there are blessings) is that I have a little extra credibility when I tell someone that I simply believe that God answers prayers one way or another.
Eric

I have been on the other end, not having a job and having little mouths to feed.
The platitudes as you describe do fill the uncomfortable gap when you care but do not know what to say. I appreciated those comments because I know they were heartfelt. I did some “fierce praying” asking God to help me help my family. Eventually you find yourself alone, with decisions to make.
I had to start all over, it was very hard, but little by little things got better. Being unemployed has taught me some valuable lessons that I may never have learned otherwise. It brought me closer to God and my family. One thing I share with people is we must keep on carrying on; one thing will lead to you to another and never give up. Seek out opportunity and you will eventually find. This is easier said than done, I know. To start all over I had to swallow my pride and do what was right for my wife and children, in essence I became a servant. I put my trust in God that this was the path to take. It has made me a better person, husband and father. During this time in my life I was introduced to St. Ignatius. I revisit his words often. I thank God for St. Ignatius and his guidance:

In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice and are not bound by some obligation. We should not fix our desires on health or sickness, wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or short one. For everything has the potential of calling forth in us a deeper response to our life in God.
Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening his life in me.
- St. Ignatius as paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.

James, you have expressed so much of what I have felt in tough situations. We all have them in one form or another. Praying fiercely? You bet I have! Looking for God, looking for every little miracle I could find? Yes indeed. Life is journey, God is our companion. A little quote out of an old prayer book, something like “He who made the day will show the way, so I securely go.” That’s from memory, but you get the idea!

So let us pray fiercely not only for those in need in our immediate circle, but to all who are in dire straits with economic/job problems. It is a problem for all of us, not just the unemployed.

M.
M.

I am posting late to this conversation because when Paul first posted it I could not find words. I had just received a not from my brother who wrote “There are many times when I think God has forgotten me…” He is unemployed from a job he loved and was good at. I am always holding him in prayer, invoking our parents, our sister and brother, but I still feel helpless. Sometimes things do not ‘work out fine’–at least in the ‘fineness’ that we might expect. People lose so much when they are unemployed, financially and materially, yes, but much more–dignity, self-esteem, hope, dreams. I know deep down “there’s a gift here someplace” but conveying that message to someone who is struggling is very difficult.

Thank you so much, Eric, for putting Roger on your ‘fierce’ prayer list. I will give him your message. They resonate from your personal experience.