[Wednesday's Devotional] - It's a tough job

I have to confess that throughout last year work was tough. Many times I felt I was drowning and knowing that God had dropped me in this river of difficulty did not always help. I thought I was going under, it seemed I was frantically treading water, yet, one day at a time God brought me through the year and although I sometimes felt that I was losing, I realise I have been learning a great deal. As I look back on the changes God has bought about in the staffing and in my relationships at work, I now see his hand on the whole situation and this keeps me afloat.

God has called you to live for him in your unique situation: administrator, butcher, banker, builder, dustman, nurse, home-maker, teacher, tycoon…. the list is endless but the boss is the same, the 'unseen' boss. Nobody else can live for Christ in the job that you do, that is your privilege and your pain, and it's different from anyone else's. Just as every football match ever played is a different match the rules remain unchanged and unchangeable, so your working life is unique and unrepeatable.

Holiness is recognising that God has called you to live for him in your unique situation. Holiness in not just the absence of badness, not just a negative quality based on lots of prohibitions, holiness is the positive presence of the life of Jesus. You carry Christ into every situation and his presence to some will be uncomfortable, without saying a word his spirit will be at work. Holiness is godliness with guts.

Many years ago as a new Christian I was unbearable at work, of that I'm sure, I was very good at trying to change others, not realising the only change necessary was the work the Lord was wanting to do in me, thankfully he is still at work. As we liberate him to reign in the place where we work he will liberate us.

In the words of St Francis of Assisi "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words" he also said "While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in you heart"

During the toughest times at work I remember His hand has placed me in this privileged job, I know there is a purpose above and beyond having learnt the job and the ability to do it, there is a higher calling and knowing that carries me through the most demanding days. On such days I rely on His promises to me, I look at the small photograph on my office wall, it's me on my motorbike all loaded with bags for the adventure, 'Jesus is my pillion' (this was a prophetic word several years ago-our God has a great humour) where and when we don't yet know, we do know that my present work is just for a season, it is preparation time for our destiny and for us all it is important that each day we embrace the journey as well as the destination.

Dawn Milward