We can have high self-esteem living out our life’s calling, even when our work seems humble. This is because God gives us authority and power similar to what Jesus had. His security, in knowing his power and who he was, enabled him to serve with joyful humility that we can imitate. When we understand our strength and high position in Christ, our joy comes naturally as we do what God calls us to. Please join me as I explore this ability to enjoy intense joy even when we live a humble life surrendered to Christ.
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a woman who works at a humble job, a widow, a student who feels no one notices her, or a gal in any other unseen position, Jesus sees you. Remember Hagar, seemed lowly, yet God saw her, and so she called him “El Roi,” the God who sees me (Gens. 16:13.) We may never accomplish things that amaze the crowds. Yet when we know how valuable we are to God, we can enjoy doing whatever he calls us to. Even without any praise from the outside world, we will feel applauded and fulfilled, because God is applauding us, but we have to trust God really feels that way about us.
For example, look at these passages from Acts 7:54-57, “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears and yelling, at the top of their voices, they all rushed him.” Certainly the Jewish leaders did not respect Stephen’s work as a deacon helping poor Greek widows. But most of all, they resented Stephen’s understanding of Scripture and his witness of Jesus as our Messiah. Stephen actually saw Jesus stand up, ready to welcome him into heaven. While the Jewish leaders looked down on Stephen (and sadly they murdered him) Jesus was in heaven, literally standing up for Stephen.
God included this passage for many reasons, and one was so that we could witness a time when Jesus literally stood up for one of his saints. Jesus is cheering for us, and so are the angels. Look at Luke 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is more joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Furthermore, Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and verse 34 says Jesus intercedes for us too. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus is always making intercession for us, and 1 John 2:1b says, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous.”
But we may be tempted to think we are not doing enough for God. Then we will think our lives are so humble, because we are lazy or disobedient. Then we may be tempted to compare ourselves to others who do more work for the Lord, whether they are evangelists like Greg Laurie, active women in our churches, or the Proverbs 31 wife. If we look at their lives, we may think we are disappointing God, because our work is so much more modest, whether that is our in home life, or our work outside our homes. But God’s calling for each woman is unique—there is one calling he has for you, not many callings. 1 Cor. 7:7b confirms this: “…each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” 1 Peter 4:10 corroborates with this too: “Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” When God calls you, and you do what he calls you to do, you are in his will. And when you serve God with joy in his will, you delight him.
Remember Romans 8:28 says, “God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” This verse has two qualifications, so here is the first question: Do you love God? Most likely, if you are reading this, you love him. The second qualification is if you are called according to his purpose. This is the area where many women are less sure of themselves. So let’s confirm some signs you are in God’s will. First, since you love God, do you do your best to surrender all areas of your life to him? I will be honest, we may deceive ourselves here, and sadly Scripture confirms this in Jer. 17:9, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.” So how do we participate with God in searching our hearts? Pray the Scripture back to the Lord, such as this one: Psalm 139: 13-14 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
In a recent post, I admitted that in John 16: 12 Jesus told his disciples, “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.” This verse shows us that at times we are not ready to hear all that is true in our lives even when we ask God to show us all of our sins. Sadly, we cannot bear to hear all the bad qualities about ourselves at one time. We cannot bear to know everything in the future either. But that verse also shows us that God has compassion for our weaknesses. So we simply trust God that if we pray earnestly, he will tell us as much as we can bear, and later he will tell us more (as Jesus told those same disciples in verse 13 of that chapter—and he did tell them more later.)
So when you are doing your best to live according to the calling God has for you, and when you are obeying God and earnestly seeking him, you can trust you are in God’s will for you, and thus following the calling he has for you. Here is where we must take charge of our minds, which can fill us with doubts, fears, and lies (thanks to the devil, our flesh and our own uncertainty.) No matter how humble your work is, you are pleasing God as you live this simple life of yours. God is very pleased with you. You must choose to believe this. Believe what you read in Phils.2:13, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” God is working in you so you want to do his will—to fulfill the calling he gives you. Then live out Cols.3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Are you washing dishes, changing a baby’s diaper, entering data on a computer, studying but the classes are boring? Whatever you are doing, when you love and obey God, you are honoring him. And now you can have the freedom to ask God to use you in this humble position of yours. If you are shy, you may not want to talk to crowds about Jesus. But you may want to talk to the people you are closer to. One on one, you can still tell them about the good Jesus is doing in your life. This simple act blesses the Lord. Brother Lawrence, a monk from many years ago, wrote a book, The Practice of the Presence of God about his prayerful life, even when he performed menial kitchen tasks. He kept talking to God and enjoying him. Paul hinted at this when he said in 1 The.5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” We don’t have to pray formal prayers. We might be washing dishes and look out the window and see some flower blooming and realize we really enjoy those flowers. We can simply say, “God, thanks for those flowers.”
Our unceasing prayer enables us to give perpetual thanks. The more we find things we really enjoy, the more we can thank God. And the more we enjoy the smallest things, the more we will enjoy the humble work we do for others, and thus for God. This may sound strange, but at times we need to simplify our lives and our outlook. When we wish for grand things and then feel discontented, we miss the chance to enjoy all God has already given us. Then we fantasize that we should do big acts of service for God that others will applaud. Yet if we do the opposite and look for joy and appreciate the smallest things we are already doing for God, our focus changes. This does not mean we will not do big things for God. But we might not, and we need to be OK with knowing we may never do what others call “big things for God.”
God does not see our obedience as big or small, but rather complete or incomplete. And partial obedience is not obedience at all. When we simply do what we sense God calling us to do, we please God, and he wants to spend time with us. He does not like to spend time with arrogant people. For example, Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.” And Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own eyes.” God will not tolerate our fleshly pride. But Luke 18:17b says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Don’t forget that Jesus spent the majority of his time with the lowly people of the world, and he thoroughly adored them. He adores you too.
So that this post does not go on too long, I will stop here and then share more next week in the third part of this series (this week is part 2—look back at last week’s post if you missed it.) For now, I will close this segment by reassuring you that God has a great plan for your life. Your personal calling may seem humble or even meaningless to the world, but to God, it is perfect for you, as an individual. When you love God and serve him heartily, he is delighted with you.
Thank you for bearing with me as I write so many segments to this wonderful good news about God’s delight in our lives and calling, even when these are humble. May the Lord bless you this week.