What I Learned When My Husband Lost His Job • Bright Hope

Unemployment Can Feel Scary

When my husband lost his job, I was scared. If he went too long without work, we could fall behind on our bills, or even lose our house. I trust God and know He can provide for us, but I still struggle with fearing the unknown.  We can take cost-saving actions to stay financially afloat during this season. But to tell you the truth, I don’t want temporary help.

We need long-term sustainability. Do you see the difference? In the interim, before he finds a new job, we can cancel cable tv, cut back on our groceries, stop eating out, and eliminate all the extras—but he still needs a job. And until he has a sustainable income again, we are at an impasse.  

We All Share the Need for Sustainability

Sustainability provides freedom. It empowers people and gives them options to better their lives. However, the person who lives a life of unsustainability lacks liberty and is dependent on others.

The desire for personal sustainability has heightened my empathy for those living in extreme poverty. It makes me feel proud to support the work of Bright Hope, an organization that invests in programs and projects that create sustainable opportunities for the poor.     

We All Want the Same Thing

The poor don’t want to stay poverty-stricken, just like I don’t want my husband to remain unemployed. But there’s a difference: my husband has opportunities to find a job. The extreme poor don’t have the same opportunities. Still, I think what they want most is the same as what I want—a good life for themself and their family.     

Hope for Tomorrow

We’ve observed that the poor rarely lack the determination to work but often are short of the tools, training, opportunity, and start-up cash needed to be successful and, eventually, sustainable. That’s why Bright Hope supports programs that give the poor a chance at a new life. We call these programs “Hope for Tomorrow.”  To name a few…   

We offer microfinance programs where families can receive training, tools, and in some cases, even a loan to launch a business of their own. We’ve seen this work with chickens, pigs, bakeries, beekeeping, and bottling water, to name just a few.     

We’ve also given out hundreds of scholarships to help students further their education and pursue vocational training.  

Bright Hope has helped children who require reconstructive surgery get the help they need to go to school and have Hope for a better future.    

My husband’s season of unemployment has given us a reminder of everyone’s need for sustainability. I know he won’t be out of a job forever, but I hope I won’t ever forget what it feels like when my long-term sustainability is in jeopardy. 

The Gospel Brings Eternal Sustainability

One final thought as I close. Physical sustainability is necessary for today and tomorrow, but the Gospel brings eternal sustainability. More pressing than our physical needs is our need for a Savior who forgives our sins and seals our future with Him. Bright Hope recognizes this truth too, and it’s the reason we run all our programs through local churches in the communities where we work. It’s one thing to teach someone a trade or give them a scholarship, but it’s eternally important to introduce them to Jesus Christ.     

Bright Hope provides me with an opportunity to help the impoverished break free from the grip of poverty and the bondage of sin and live sustainably here on earth and into eternity. We would love to give you this opportunity, too! You’ll never regret giving an impoverished family Hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity!     

Visit us online to learn more about how you can partner with Bright Hope to bring physical and eternal sustainability to some of the world’s poorest people.     