The day I lost my job was the best day of 2024
The day after I was laid off, I went for a run in the rain. I felt like a whole world of opportunities had just opened up.
The following article contains the thoughts, opinions, and memories of the author and in no way reflects a full or accurate account of any business operations, company decisions, or internal communications of the entities mentioned.
So far, this year has gone much differently than I could have expected when it began. But it’s been so much better than I could have possibly imagined.
I started 2024 a little burned out from work, but hopeful that a few important stories I was working on would make the daily news grind worthwhile. Even so, I couldn’t ignore the thought that perhaps I was nearing the end of my five and a half years at the company. For most of that time, it was an incredible, positive place to work and grow as a journalist. But things were changing.
Like many media companies, Business Insider was struggling to reach audiences that were increasingly turning to social media for news. This led to a lot of business and editorial changes in the last couple of years, including the company’s first round of layoffs last summer. But well before then, I’d noticed a shift in morale among my colleagues and an amplified pressure to perform.
When a particular story did well on one vertical, editors rushed to get the same results on every other team. But the same angle a reporter might use for covering real-estate for example, doesn’t always apply to retail or entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, I was often assigned stories that felt like I was forcing a round peg into a square hole.
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Every January, my church holds a corporate 21 days of fasting and prayer. After asking God what I should give up this time, I decided to fast from any pleasures that tend to become self-indulgent or excess for me. That included alcohol, caffeine, Netflix (and streaming in general), shopping, and takeout. None of these things are bad in moderation, but they also aren’t essential. For example, I don’t need coffee in the morning if I get enough sleep and ask God to be my strength for the day. After a hard day of work, I don’t need to find comfort by binging a Netflix show if I find my comfort in God and relax with more mindful activities like reading or cooking.
My prayer focus was asking God for direction in my job and career. I also asked God what words He was speaking to me and the church during this time. He told me: cleanse, purify, prepare, situate, and prune. Looking back, I realize how all of these words really applied to what was about to happen in my life.
The week of January 25th, the day I got laid off*
* it’s also my dad’s birthday!
Monday, January 22
That night, I met up with a new friend from church for drinks after work, sans alcohol. We got talking about our careers and I asked her how she gets through the times when it can feel like our jobs have so little to do with God.
Neither of us work in ministry full-time, but we’re both involved in our church. Sometimes the things we do on Sundays, whether it’s leading people in worship or prayer, can feel so important that it’s hard to go back to our jobs on Mondays. As a journalist, sometimes I get to tell stories that uncover important information, question people in positions of power, or highlight someone’s inspirational journey. But most of the time, I’m covering a viral TikTok product or how much revenue million-dollar companies are raking in. “Is there a higher purpose in those stories?” I often wonder.
But my friend reminded me of the power we have as Christians to be light in a dark and fallen world. Even if our 9-to-5 work doesn’t always feel groundbreaking, the way we operate around our colleagues, sources, or clients is important. I went home that night feeling encouraged to make the most of my job, even if I had to do another first-person story or fast-food review that I wasn’t into.
Tuesday, January 23
The next night, I started a course my church was hosting called The Jesus Stuff, which would teach us about all the things Jesus did during his ministry and that he has empowered us as Christians to do through the Holy Spirit.
The first session was a time to reflect on any areas of our lives we have idolized and placed before God. He convicted me that my job had become an idol. I realized that I’d placed so much importance on getting my editor to like and respect me and to perform well at work so I could get bigger assignments. In fact, I had a tendency in the past to place my job before God, rushing to log on to Slack in the morning before praying or reading the Bible. I would often skip my lunch break, worried I wouldn’t meet a deadline if I didn’t have that extra hour. I would work late to finish an assignment, but struggled to fit in time with God.
I repented and asked God to help me put Him back in His rightful place.
Wednesday, January 24
I received an email from one of the pastors at my church inviting me to join the inner healing team for the Cares Network, a new mental health ministry they’re launching to offer prayer, discipleship, and affordable counseling to Christians throughout New York City. I was so excited to be a part of a ministry serving such a crucial and often overlooked area of churches today.
The pastor asked me if I could attend a training that took place the following Friday and Saturday. I told her I could make it for the Saturday session, but wouldn’t be available Friday because of work.
Thursday, January 25
Early that morning, my pastor replied to my last email to clarify that both sessions were required to join the team, but offered that perhaps I could attend the next training.
Ten minutes later, just as I was about to type my response to her, I received a text from one of my coworkers: “Please tell me you didn’t get let go.”
My heart raced and I rushed to the tab with my work email. At the top of my inbox sat the subject line, “Your role at Business Insider.” My heart sank. I didn’t need to read it to know what it was going to say, but I opened it anyway.
“We have determined that your role is among those being eliminated today,” a managing editor wrote. The email was short and would be followed up with a meeting that morning with HR and the Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
I was jittery and felt like crying, but nothing came out because I was still in shock. I knew the company was struggling and had recently rebranded, along with making some changes in editorial direction. The company was focusing more on business and technology coverage, so I had a hunch that some roles in lifestyle, for example, would eventually get cut. But I was covering business!
As the news sank in, I realized this was the answer to my prayers. I wanted God to give me a direction for my job and clearly this was it! The door was closing on this chapter of my life, which also meant He would soon be opening new doors. I began to think of the possibilities, not only for my career but for the impact I could have in ministry.
Now that I didn’t have a job, I could attend the Cares Network training sessions. I could spend more time on my book. I could go on a press trip that I’d been invited to without needing a manager’s approval. The list went on.
I thought back to every other time I had a major shift in my life and God always came through. He provided me with grocery money when I was living on my cousin’s couch and babysitting jobs when I quit my last retail job to pursue journalism. He has never failed me.
I was overwhelmed with joy. Joy, at a time like this! It felt crazy, but I was telling people that I lost my job with a smile and a laugh.
Later that night at The Jesus Stuff course, one of the leaders at my church told me how my joy in this situation reminded her of a verse in Proverbs.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.”
— Proverbs 31:25
How true those words felt. I cried joyful tears that night while we worshiped and thanked God for His goodness. I knew it was just the beginning of a beautiful journey He was taking me on.
