When the economy takes a turn for the worse, it feels like everything is falling apart, but we can rely on God and grow from these unexpected experiences.
COVID-19 is an epidemic virus that has affected the world and has shut down many businesses throughout the world. Because of the shutdowns, the economy started to decline, which then had companies furloughing or laying off their workers, leaving fewer job opportunities for 2020 college graduates. Job searching is ordinarily very competitive because of the limited number of positions that people can apply for. So with the decrease in job opportunities, we need to work extra hard to meet companies’ standards and keep our jobs. With all these struggles, graduates could be questioning their timing in finishing school—I surely do.
Photo by Milan Popovic
In “Neither Trust In The Arm of Flesh,” a commencement speech given to the 2009 Brigham Young University graduates, Elder Russell M. Nelson says that “throughout history, economic conditions have been cyclic in nature. So you will live to see more ups and downs in the economy.” No matter what we decide to do after graduation, we will continue to see economic downturns in the future. We can learn from these trials as they teach us to have faith in these unprecedented times.
It just so happens that my trial—and the trial of many recent graduates—is working harder to find and keep a job, as COVID-19 continues to halt many companies’ operations. Even still, we will continue to learn and grow from our challenges because God loves us and wants us to be happy. He wants us to succeed. As Elder Nelson quoted in his speech,“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Read or listen to Elder Russell M. Nelson’s entire commencement speech “Neither Trust In The Arm of Flesh.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Isabella Nuñez, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY VASILY KOLODA
Find more insights
Read more about trusting God in uncertain times in Madeline Hill’s article “Gracefully Accepting God’s Will.”
Read or watch Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s commencement speech “Banishing All Shadows” to learn how to reject the darkness that comes with the unknown trials of our life, especially after graduating.