Post Summary:
Seasonal Depression and the Reality of the Wait.
Finding Provision in the Lord.
Shifting the Supernatural Atmosphere.
The “Journaling with Jesus” Method.
A Useable Daily Routine for Your Victory.
Is anyone else also in a season of unemployment? If so, I hope my personal insight brings you some encouragement. I’ve been unemployed for a few months. Although I thought I had a promising lead a few weeks ago, it fell through. I’ve spent weeks sending resumes, writing cover letters, and filling out applications, but I haven’t had any upcoming prospects. I am sure you can all relate. The process is awful at times. And to be completely transparent, discouragement can set in, making it hard for me to get out of bed.
When the days are weary, due to my recent job loss, and I feel down, I connect with Jesus. He commands us not to worry about our lives. This includes what we will eat, drink, or wear. He, being perfect, reminds us of how much we matter in this life by saying:
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" — Matthew 6:26
From scripture, we know that God provides for the birds and clothes the flowers. He says, “How much more will He take care of us?” From my experience in this hardship season, I can see His unexpected provision. The times when checks arrived in the mail, when I needed them the most, and these reminders point to the reality that God deeply loves me.
When I am depressed about anything, like my present unemployment situation, it is easier to complain. Scripture says, in Psalm 42:11, that we should intentionally praise God and focus on His goodness. By doing this, you intentionally enact success! The Psalmist basically wrote, when the soul is downcast, we are supposed to anticipate that He’s got all things taken care of. Further, tied to this verse, Romans 8:28 says, “He’s working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.” Such profound encouragement in a time of despair! Although it can be hard, we are to put our faith in His unseen and unfelt provision (At the time), at the place, total surrender to His will, and He will come through for us. It is a trust challenge, and the sooner we trust in Him, the faster He will come to our aid.
“Journaling with Jesus” with Wendy Backlund’s Book
Choosing to focus on God’s goodness in any time of hardship shifts the supernatural space around us and ultimately makes a vast spiritual improvement. This is a key finding from the wonderful book by Wendy Backlund, Changing Your Reality: A 50-Day Devotional. In the book, Backlund writes:
Once you realize that everywhere you go there is a spirit influencing that space, you can learn to take authority over it and shift the atmosphere (p. 120).
Later, but on the same page in the book, Backlund goes on to say, “We are not just flesh and blood, we are spirit, and we are being influenced by spirit. My goal is to get people to understand higher spiritual realities so they do not become a victim of the prevailing spirit of a place.” Then, again, on the same page, she says, “Our call is not merely to discern spirits. We are supposed to shift atmospheres, like a thermostat changes the temperature in a room.” Since we are not just flesh and blood, but spiritual beings, Backland reminds readers that we influence the supernatural. We can change the spiritual “temperature” of our rooms, like adjusting a thermostat in a room.
This season, dealing with the recent unemployment situation, my family has been really diving into Backland’s book and the process she describes in it, which we call “Journaling with Jesus.” To use this process, we ask God questions and write down what we feel He is saying. This process provides a step-by-step pathway to deepen our prophetic insight and connection with the Lord. Maintaining that proximity to Him has a profound impact when life gets hard.
It is important to note that sometimes the demonic interferes with this “Journaling with Jesus” process. That is not uncommon for the evil one to interrupt your transmissions from God. In these instances, we are instructed in the bible to “test the spirits” in 1st John 4:1. So, if you receive a statement that does not line up with the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), you can pretty much tell at that point that it is a demonic transmission. You can cast it away in Jesus Name! By the way, the fruits of the spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The Daily Routine for Victory
What else can be done to take authority and shift the supernatural atmosphere? For me, when I feel down, it comes down to “putting on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10–18). I find that on days that I do this, I have greater impact, success, and total victory. It is also a great way to overcome any discouragement.
This process involves a simple routine that includes:
- Read one chapter of the Bible first thing in the morning.
- Then, praise the Lord with worship music.
- Next, “Journal with Jesus,” and ask Him questions that are burning inside you. You will hear Him respond!
Doing these steps first thing in the morning sets the stage for a wonderful, successful day. Although a tough season of unemployment can seem discouraging, and I know it all too well myself, the supernatural shift that occurs when you surrender your day to Jesus builds momentum and changes the atmosphere with His goodness. Remember, we are to REST in the Lord. To REST in the Lord is to:
R: Resist
E: Every
S: Stupid
T: Thought
When considering this mnemonic memory tool, I keep telling myself that any stupid thought is not from God. Trust that God will take care of all the details in your life. Remember, this also includes your job and where you will work!
On a final note, if this writing has helped you in any way, please give me a shout-out. I might seem like I have it all together all the time, but sometimes, just like you, I need a little positivity. I really could use some encouragement, so please send me a line, or pray for me – thank you!
Reference:
Backlund, W. (2023). Changing Your Reality: A 50 day devotional. Igniting Hope Ministries.