Destitute in the City

lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:9 ESV)

Little did I know it would be another five years before I found another job, after I was laid off by a corporation. It was during the time of global recession and hiring was scarce. In the meantime, my age was advancing, and despite submitting hundreds of applications, only a few contacted me but none landed me in employment.*

Although I was able to find some freelance work during the years of waiting, providing for my family was extremely difficult. Amid the struggles, there was also the need to contribute a few hundred dollars monthly to a family fund among my siblings for the care of our sick mother.

After almost emptying all our savings, my wife and I came to the point of considering selling our apartment. In my mind's eye, I saw myself and my family sleeping and living on the streets for a time.

It was during the lowest point of my life that I cried out of desperation to God for help one last time, having lose heart expecting an answer to my prayers after so many years of silence and non-response during times of hardship and struggles.

Having reached the last straw of hope, I shared my predicament in an online discussion group with fellow members of a Christian writers' website that I had joined for several years to request for prayers alongside me.

It was humbling that God chose two of the members to help me, people who have never met me personally. Sharing with me that they had been prompted during their personal prayer to give a gift, one of them wired me a sum that was just right for the care of my mother for that month, and the other sent me an amount that helped my family through a couple of months before I found a job with a startup.

Although the job with the startup was shortlived, it helped my family pulled through the next six months before I eventually landed in long term employment with a church-related nonprofit organization.

It took me several years before I was able to express my thanks to the two who had helped me, by blessing them with the same kindness given to me. One of them decided then to use what I had repaid to help others facing difficult situations like mine.

I am forever grateful to God and to the members of the online Christian writers' community who helped me and my family during our difficult times.

Thank you for your love for God and for the exemplary lives you live in expressing genuine care for those in need.

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* Where I live, there is no unemployment aid, insurance or benefit