by Martha June

Have you ever watched the care an artist takes when creating their masterpiece?

Have you ever seen a photographer’s eye catch an angle you could not see?

Have you ever listened to a gardener describe the physical toil of sowing before a bloom?

Or what about the “less glamorous” jobs?

Have you ever watched a mom’s faithfulness to her family and children?

Have you ever been grateful for a janitor that takes care to make a public bathroom spotless?

They each take excellent care of what they love and what they have the power to care for. When you love something, you take the time to nurture it, celebrate it, perfect it, and care for it.

This goes for the glamorous jobs and the gross jobs. You can visually notice who cares and, frankly, who does not.

Most of us would probably not describe our jobs as “beautiful.” Likely challenging our faithfulness to our given tasks.

I have worked what society would deem “meaningless” jobs in my life. If they are not a career maker, does working hard matter?

My parents raised my siblings and me to treat each job we work as a “real job,” which has done me excellent service. But there have been times when I asked myself, is it worth it? Is it worth it to go the extra mile? Is it worth it to step higher? It is really worth it in the long run?  Is it worth it to pour into a job that could replace me in a minute?

At a low point, feeling overwhelmed, I was crying to God. “Is this toil worth it?” 

He whispered to me, “Hands of love make a difference.” 

Immediately I pictured the Lord’s crucified hands, nailed to a cross.

The same hands that touched lepers and healed the blind, sick, and mute. 

Those beaten hands were the same hands that reached out to me in my sin and shame and pulled me from the pit.  

“You’re right, Lord. Your hands of love made the greatest difference in the world.” 

Can you imagine our lives without those hands that went the extra mile? 

Can you imagine our lives without those hands that bore our heaviest burdens? 

Can you imagine? 

Colossians 3:23-24 says –

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

It is the Lord you are serving. God has reminded me what my motivation for my work should be. I am learning what working hard at our collective jobs means for the kingdom. 

Once you begin working for God- work becomes a joy. Even amidst the toil. And like Christ’s hands, that went the “extra mile” out of love. We can do the same for his glory! And maybe our work will beg the question from others, “Why?” And we can tell them.

Hands of love make a difference.

And maybe by God’s grace, our hands will bless our families, our communities, our churches, our neighbors, and the world.

If you feel overwhelmed by your toil,

If you feel depleted by the load,

I encourage you to take a *step* back from your pride, self-righteousness, or just your weariness for a second and close your eyes.

Picture Christ’s hands, and begin to see your work, whatever it may be, as a service to him. Keep working for the glory of God, whether you are seen and appreciated or not.

Hands of love make a difference.

Sincerely,

Learning to work for the Lord

P.S. I love my current job. So you never know how life will play out in the end 🙂