Life Derailed Our Plans

by John Brummitt

Life happens, whether we are ready for it or not. Most of us will have six or seven life-changing events during our lifetime. We see some of them coming, make the proper adjustments, and everything goes along without much headache (marriage, children, and retirement plans).

Other events surprise—even shock—us and we have to react in a short time frame (job loss, disability, health problems, death of a spouse or child, or forced retirement). No one knows what the future will hold for us or our family. So, what do you do if your plans don’t go according to plan?

Evaluate the damage.

Often, when the worst happens, we simply react without thinking the situation through. You lose your job, and you immediately draw out retirement funds to pay your bills. Making impulsive decisions is a mistake. Take a step back and look at the situation from a long-term viewpoint.

This is easier said than done, but the benefits will be well worth it. Retirement funds are for retirement. Drawing them out early because of an immediate need only creates another problem down the road. You might be able to pay the current bills, but you put your older self in a difficult place, and you may not be able to recover from the loss of early assets that had been set aside.

Redefine normal.

After taking a step back and realizing it is not in your best interest to liquidate your retirement account and other investment savings, you need to start moving forward by setting new short-term goals. Figure out which bills are due and how you can pay them. Do not turn to credit cards! It is easy to do, but interest rates usually are too high for you to allow balances to ride for a few months while you look for a new job or recover from an illness.

Instead, look for options to reduce your bills. Change your cell phone to a prepaid plan and pay as you go. Use public transportation instead of private. While it may be a little more work when planning trips, the cost savings from riding instead of driving will free up funds for other expenses. Drop cable or satellite. (This seems simple, but many people refuse to drop cable television, even when finances get tight.) Try to find other things you can live without until you get back on track.

Be positive.

Life doesn’t always go as planned. We are going to face hardships and tough times, but as Christians we can rise above the hardships because of the hope we have in the Lord. Financial difficulties are going to happen, things outside of our plans. How we react to those difficulties speaks volumes to those around us. We can’t say we trust the Lord with our lives and then blame Him for the troubles we face.

Find work (if physically possible).

This might be more difficult in some situations than others. If you lose a job, however, finding work—any work—should be your main focus. Many times, people try to find a job equivalent to the one they lost where they can start back at the same level or higher.

In the ideal situation, this would happen every time, but unfortunately it is not always the case. While looking for a comparable job, be willing to take a lower-paying job to get by until the ideal position becomes available. Remember, it is always easier to find a job when you have a job. Taking a lower-paying job doesn’t mean you are “going backwards” in your career; you are simply putting your family’s needs first and your ego second.

Plans are going to be derailed by the unexpected. How we react can reduce them to short-term speed bumps or create long-term difficulties. Stay calm when the worst happens. Financial difficulties won’t kill you, and you are not alone in facing the problems. The challenges you face today may allow God to “work all things together for your good.”

About the Writer: John Brummitt graduated in 2011 with an MBA from Tennessee Tech University. A 2004 graduate of Welch College, he has been with the Board of Retirement since the spring of 2006. Learn more about Free Will Baptist retirement options: www.BoardofRetirement.com.