Why You MatterParaugs

Day Five: The Joy in Our Calling

The work we do is part of our calling. Work is good and gives us purpose. It was given to us before the fall of Adam and Eve. There is great joy in building, inventing, curing, solving, teaching, caring, growing, fixing, and protecting. We would do these sorts of things even if we didn’t get paid, because it’s what we were made to do. So why does our work often become the bane of our existence? Well, there are at least three reasons.

First, though work is part of God’s creative design for us, it will be toilsome as a consequence of sin and the brokenness in this world (Genesis 3:17–19). Even though there is joy in it, it will still be work, not play. Second, though what we do matters, it can become why we think we matter. You don’t work to earn value; you work because you are valuable and so are others. Work is an opportunity to delight in your natural gifts, love your neighbor, and steward your unique abilities for the glory of God.

Third, though many of us like to work, sometimes we end up doing work not intended for us. It’s not too late to redirect. Whether we are just starting out or are many years along, we can discover the unique way we are gifted to fulfill our calling of caring for this creation and loving others through our work. 

We all know the joy experienced by success. Still, it’s not enough to simply recognize where you have succeeded. You must ask why you were successful in order to discover what your gifts are. Also consider what others have said about you. Trusted friends are good at seeing the things you may be blind to, both your strengths and your weaknesses. But don’t put pressure on them to figure out your life for you. This is not a seven-step process that works without fail. It is simply a humble gesture on your part that the Lord uses to guide you.

Take time to become more reflective about why you succeed in some areas more than others, where do you enjoy working hard and then allow your story to unfold. You do not work to earn value; you work because you are valuable and so are others. Knowing why we all matter liberates us into a place of joy about the work we are called to do. 

Why do you think you have been successful in certain areas of your life? What joy does this bring you?