Big question - I need help!

[exhausted]

Like a lot of people, I'm looking for a job, and I'm extremely discouraged.

Let me explain...

After graduating from college, my parents only gave me 3 months to find a job that paid enough to support myself. Since I wasn't having any luck and my time was running out, I did what the Bible said and "sought wise counsel". I asked anyone and everyone who know me at all for suggestions and they all pretty much said the same thing, "You need to be a teacher." One pastor even went as far as to say, "God wants you to teach. You need to do this."

The words made me cringe. I absolutely love kids, but teaching full time just didn't appeal to me at all, and I didn't think I was very good at it. Still, I told God if that's what he wanted me to do I'd do it.

I applied to a teaching program, and at that time nobody - absolutely NOBODY - got in the first time they applied. The program was so impacted we were told if we were an absolutely top notch teacher we could expect to get in within 2 years. I knew many people who were still trying to get in after 4 years, and they had been teaching full time...and they were amazing!

Well, I got in, the first and only time I applied. I was placed on the waiting list at first, then a professor pulled me into her office and said, "I want you on my team." She called the Dean of Education and, after a long discussion, she hung up and told me I was in. This was an impacted program, mind you, that was already full. There wasn't any room for me, but they broke the rules to let me in.

I told her I felt guilty since so many people wanted in and teaching really wasn't a dream of mine. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "They didn't get in because they don't have what it takes. You do. I'd be crazy to let you walk away." I still didn't really agree.

So here's my problem...

Since then, I've had a terrible time finding a job, and I still don't really like teaching. I've been working at a Christian school, with no benefits and that pays less than half of what I would be making at a public school. Since enrollment dropped, I'm out of a job. Since the school was not accredited (which I didn't know mattered) my time there won't count most places, which means it's like starting over again. I'm in my late 30's and living with my parents because I don't make enough to support myself. Needless to say, I'm not loving it.

I've applied to almost 50 places, and heard only from 2..still no job.

So why would God pretty much push me into teaching and then not provide a job for me? I've been praying like crazy, but still don't know what to do.

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Caroline H]

Welcome to the forums!

About your question, well...just because a door opens up doesn't necessarily mean it is from God. It is hard sometimes to know what the Lord want's us to do, especially when we listen to a lot of different voices. Yes, we are to seek godly counsel, but it should never replace earnest prayer and listening to that still small voice. Keep your faith in God, He will be faithful to you always.

 

[Darthvicky6]

I think God has a bigger plan. Stick it out and just wait Don't worry so much, God has you!

 

[Colton B]

Hey I am Colton.

Your question I have heard before but yours is first I have replied to. You may have the gift of teaching but the term teaching is not just as in school. For all anyone knows the gift of teaching you have may be the one to teach others of the gospel or it may be to teach others as in school. At the moment I suggest you pray. God will provide! It may come later but he has plans and they are probably even bigger than what has already been offered. Every door that opens isn't always the door that takes you where you to go.

Message me if you want to talk further.

 

[benjamin-benjamin]

couple of things..
1. just because other people tell you something, doesn't mean it is neccessarily from God...
2. the ecomony sucks, the rain falls on both the just and unjust (says the bible), my wife is out of work for the 1st time in over 10 years...
3. How do you know God is "trying" to push you into teaching and he is not trying to teach you how to stand up for yourself and do what you know is best for you....

 

[kragan]

i am geussing that you are just out of college so that puts you at about 22 -24 with a degree. follow your heart and find something that you would love to do ... if you love what you do then you will never "work".. i don't think God would tell you to choose a career in something that you would hate. it would be hard for light to shine through a dark heart. i've had many people tell me that i would be a good teacher but i know that i could never do that (my patience just isn't that strong)
i wish i would have followed my dreams and now at age 46 its too late. God bless and i will be praying that you make the right choices.

 

[Pizzaguy]

"You need to be a teacher." One pastor even went as far as to say, "God wants you to teach. You need to do this."

Well, it DID sound like He was telling you something...

The words made me cringe. I absolutely love kids, but teaching full time just didn't appeal to me at all, and I didn't think I was very good at it. Still, I told God if that's what he wanted me to do I'd do it.

But maybe it wasn't Him...

Well, I got in, the first and only time I applied. I was placed on the waiting list at first, then a professor pulled me into her office and said, "I want you on my team." She called the Dean of Education and, after a long discussion, she hung up and told me I was in. This was an impacted program, mind you, that was already full. There wasn't any room for me, but they broke the rules to let me in.

I told her I felt guilty since so many people wanted in and teaching really wasn't a dream of mine. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "They didn't get in because they don't have what it takes. You do. I'd be crazy to let you walk away." I still didn't really agree.

I wonder what she saw in you, that you don't see.

So why would God pretty much push me into teaching and then not provide a job for me? I've been praying like crazy, but still don't know what to do.

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

First, this economy is unbelievably bad. In my profession, normally, I could have a job elsewhere by simply applying. Not in the past two years! It is AWFUL out there!

Second, (and another poster hinted at this) I wonder if there is a way you can teach that you enjoy. Would your degree qualify you to do corporate training or something like that?

I'm afraid I can't be any more encouraging or helpful - like I said, I'm troubled too. I am 50 and working for a small company that is barely existing (mostly due to errors on management's part as must as the economy, we've been in bad shape for 5 years). I do have a line on a job, but it's gonna be hard to make it work for me, since it's 60 miles away and I have a house I can't sell.

I'll say a prayer for both of us tonight. Again, I wish I could be more help.

 

[Mike]

um. This member made one post a year and a half ago. I'm thinking she's moved on by now. Maybe it's just me. :D

 

[Pizzaguy]

And I've made 363 posts in about a month... how'd I do that?

 

[Mike]

And I've made 363 posts in about a month... how'd I do that?

Yeah. You sure do post a lot! ;)

3778/11= 343 per month. Success isn't a one-time deal. Success is defined by continuous achievement. :D

Vince Lombardi said something like that (much better than I did). I couldn't find that quote, but I found another of his that I found pretty profound.

Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.

 

[Pizzaguy]

I may want to commit Vince's quote to memory.

Or make it a sigline (maybe after the red car sells.)

Since the OP is gone... I think I'll take the thread over!

Let's look at the words to "Find Me" by Margaret Becker:

I'm gonna move on down to Elliston
Let my hair grow wild and free
Rent a second story studio
Find the other side of me
I'm gonna sit out on the edge of the fire escape
Feel a little destitute
Search for feelings that will help me remember
The love that I had for YOu
Find me, find me
I'll wait for You
Find me, find me
I'll wait for You
I'm gonna give away my stereo
Give away my T.V.
I'm going back to essentials, a chair and a lamp
And the Book that You wrote to me
You see, I'm looking for the You that used to speak so clear
I'm looking for the me that had a heart to hear
And I'm looking for the passion that help me her
On the edge
CHORUS
You see, I'm looking for the me that I used to know
I'm looking for the love that was out of control
'Cause I feel a little cold here in the afterglow
CHORUS
Find me, find me
I'll, I'll wait for You

​

I don't know where Elliston is, but I ain't moving there. But I am considering selling the house, the red car (well, it's for sale already), leaving my job and taking a job elsewhere - but still in this industry.

My current company is losing it's way, and my place in the industry is eroding. We are way behind in technology and my skills are getting rusty. Time to move on, hate to say it, but time to move on. At 50, Im gonna change jobs after 10 1/2 years - I hate that, but I can't stay here, I'm afraid my career will be over in 2-3 years.