Day Dreamer,
You are correct that God has a plan for you. It is "his" will that will be done, and not ours. I can understand your frustration, but ask for guidance then truly listen. You will receive an answer.
Both my wife and I have been where you are, the plant that we both worked at shut down in early 2005. We didn't want to leave the area, as we have family that lives here that we wanted to be involved with (our grandchildren and my parents).
You said that you didn't mind going to school, well here is your opportunity, Go for it. We both picked different career paths (we learned from having all of our eggs in the same basket) and I am proud to say that in June of 2008, thirty years after graduating high school, I graduated college.
The hardest thing for me was to pick something that I would enjoy doing for the rest of my working career. I chose the medical profession, and have been a respiratory therapist since shortly after graduating. She chose an accounting career, and now works for the state here in West Virginia.
I am still without any pension, I work two different jobs per diem (which means as needed). Thankfully, she has insurance....so it could always be worse than it is for us. I keep praying that I get something that has some pension attached to it, and eventually, in God's time.....I am sure I will.
God will help us, with whatever we choose, but he isn't going to do it all for us. That being said, if a "dumb countryboy" like me can graduate and pass the board exams. You can too, with a little faith in the man above and some work of your own.
Have faith brother......this was in God's plan for you, as it was for me. Acceptance, is the key, and every single time that things got difficult and thought I couldn't get through it, he carried me right through. He will do this for you also........just keep the faith.
I will keep you in my prayers. Let us know how things turn out, I'm sure that you will be fine. Just pick something secure, and that you don't mind working for the rest of your career.
Winterhawk1960