A New Way To Obey

How was my summer? I’ve spent the whole of it in San Diego California where the weather was rarely over 85 degrees, and I had an ocean view out of my bedroom window. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Well if I’m being completely honest, it wasn’t. I mean the weather and view was great, but I had a hard summer. I think the biggest factor was that I really didn’t like my job (sorry, Jeremy). I was working for Hume San Diego in their merchandise and apparel shop. Hume was amazing and definitely an organization that is doing an awesome job of glorifying God and furthering the Kingdom. However, if you know me at all, working inside by myself all day is definitely not my jam. I did not enjoy what I was doing almost all day every day. I think that would be hard for anyone. But even with everything being so challenging, GOD WAS SO GOOD!!!!

 Throughout this past semester, as I was looking for a job, my prayer over and over again was, “God, I’ll go ANYWHERE and I’ll do ANYTHING.” If it would have been up to me I would not have ended up where I did, doing what was. But God knows better than me (Isaiah 55:8-9). Throughout my whole summer I had to remind myself of that. I followed God so this was the best possible route for my life. Yet, especially at the beginning, there was still a lot of questioning, “God, why am I here?”

During this time, God reminded me of another time in my life when I was questioning where He had me. When I lived in Florida I worked for a company that moved me around to their different departments and locations quite often. As in, I worked in 8+ locations within the year I was there. In that time God showed me the passage in Ecclesiastes 3 that says,

 “But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift.”(MSG v.9-13)

My job and where I am is a gift from God. It was such a great reminder and it allowed me to have joy in what I was doing even if I didn’t enjoy the tasks of everyday life. It also reminded me that my job was just busywork. My first priority no matter where I go and what I do is to share the gospel and show the love of Jesus Christ. Outside of that it really doesn’t matter what I’m doing.

Once I had all this in my brain, my thoughts changed from, “God, why am I here?” to “God I am going to do the absolute best I possibly can at this job” I very much so had a Colossians 3:23-24 attitude.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…It is the Lord Christ you are serving”

This was really cool for me, because I had never before really worked so hard at something I really didn’t love. It was a new way to obey the Lord and it was so refreshing and rewarding. On top of all that, I had the opportunity to get into my bible not just once but multiple times a day. This just in itself allowed me to grow so much closer to God through spending time with Him.  

Was this summer fun? No, not most of the time. Was this summer good? Absolutely!! Obedience in what God wants you to do will always, without a doubt, be the best option for your life. He has proven this in my life over and over and over again. And once again this summer He has left me in complete amazement at his goodness and provision!