At my Grandma’s funeral nearly a year and a half ago my cousin leaned over to hug me and whispered in my ear, “They were so proud of you for doing the Lord’s work.”
For whatever reason, that phrase and the context in which it was spoken stuck with me ever since. On days like today I wonder if this is the “Lord’s work” my Grandparents would be proud of.
Today I’ve spent my time sitting in my office in the church earning the salary paid to me by the people who give to fund the “Lord’s work”, and my day has consisted of:
returning emails
scheduling a catered dinner
scheduling worship services in planning center
reminding parents about payment & permission forms for an event
following up with a contracted speaker for an event
planning a volunteer leader meeting
etc. etc. etc.
And if we’re being honest?
None of that feels like the Lord’s work.
Yet I’m reminded that He must be in the details as much as He is in the moments where ministry feels like ministry. When people have needs and I get to be part of meeting them. When I get to teach truth and see students grasp it for the first time. When I orchestrate an activity like a silly beauty pageant at Girls Retreat and see it’s purpose fulfilled right before my eyes as an insecure, shy middle school girl walks confidently down a red carpet in front of her peers and flashes a huge smile as she spins in the spotlight. Those are the moments I feel like I’m doing the Lord’s work.
Yet far too often, I find myself:
1. Drudging through the details just to get to the next “important” moment
2. Being consumed by the details so that I can hold up my “busy” trophy and feel important and needed.
3. A combination of the two (most often).
Today, I’m reminded that details and programs, emails and small groups, catering and orchestrating events – all of them belong to the Lord. The plethora of emails I sent to parents today are as much the Lord’s work as the late nights I’ll spend talking about Jesus with high school girls next weekend at Disciple Now. The time spent scheduling catering and planning to host contracted staff and volunteer servants is as much the Lord’s work as the effort I put into carefully orchestrated events that demonstrate to girls that their worth comes from being a daughter of the King of the universe.
Grateful for the opportunity to redirect my heart to the One who works in me as I send emails & teach small groups & everything in between.
All of this for and because of Him.
Thank you for writing this!! Thank you for reminding me that God is in everything and that He works all things towards His purpose… even jobs as receptionists and moments that don’t feel as grand or adventurous as other moments we’ve had before. I love you and I’m proud of you!