There's a guy on my facebook who posted something on his wall that prompted me to write another blog post. The job he has is what he truly likes, it's something he's trained real hard for, worked endlessly, put in a ton of time, but things aren't turning out the way he thought they would, or the way he thinks they should. He said, "I feel like giving up", his friend's made comments like, "don't give up" "stick in there", they said just about every thing they could to uplift his spirits. Somebody even threw out there, "It's always darkest before dawn" originality at it's best, lol. He thanked them for their words of encouragement and said how he's, "really been feeling down and that their words helped him to wake up a little, and be more positive". He goes on to lament about how he has, "worked so hard and been through too much to not see the fruits as yet", then he asked a very interesting question, "Why is God putting me through so much? Why me?", he added, "Don't see the fruits of my labour". So where are the fruits of this guys labour? I mean he has worked by the sweat of his brow right? and still, nada fruits. What's up with that?
Many of us have felt this way so what he's feeling is nothing out of the average, we've all been there, well many have at least. Remember those times when you picked up a few extra shifts, worked overtime, woke up earlier than usual to get that proverbial worm, or fruit, which is it? lol. Some may have missed a few of their kids swim matches or soccer games, maybe even moved vacation down the calendar a few times to get that couple extra dollars. Lets face face it, most have burned the candle at both ends and expected to see the results after a certain amount of time, we would hate to find out it's all been in vain? But what if that is the case?
How do you know if what you've been doing is truly what you should be doing? Is it because your really good at it? Many people are good at many things, probably because of all the time and dedication they've put into it, or maybe it's just something innate, you know past down through the family genes or something. Perhaps it is what your suppose to be doing, maybe you need to change your approach, take a second look at your character even. Ask yourself why am I doing this? What is my motivation? Is God anywhere in this? Did I even seek Gods council before I went out and put my all into this? Many don't ask those questions. Most of us don't want to hear that what we love so much may not be God's plan. I know I didn't want to hear it, what I loved to do nobody could tell me that wasn't my calling, even though it ultimately replaced God. I assumed on my own that's what I was meant to do. Never asked God anything, pretty much listening to my carnal mind. I noticed a void, I enjoyed what I did but wasn't getting the results I expected. Was it God calling me out of whatever it was I was doing? Was it God trying to point me into the right direction? Was it Gods way of saying this isn't what I have planned for you.
Many have dreams, many have big plans, many have have a colourful and impressive answer for that question, where do you see yourself 5 years from now? ( I hate that question by the way, on account of me not being a psychic) 5 years from now I hope to be wherever God wills. I'm not saying we should go throughout life winging it every chance we get, but it's really not winging it if God is the driver. Not exactly been checking for God much before, he's taken the back burner to your career. Oh, you go to church on Sundays so you and God pretty much have an understanding? (you might need to check my post on the compartmentalizing christian). After you've "worked so hard" you wonder where are my fruits God? Ever heard of selfish ambition? James 3:16. Psalm 119:36, Proverbs 18:1 & Romans 2:8, there are more but read those and see if the cap fits.
God has been, and probably currently is, nowhere on your agenda. What if all you built all you worked so hard at, was built all on your flesh. In fact, what you do has consumed so much of your life that what you do has become your God. Oh, that sounds a little harsh? Or is it that your feeling a little guilty, your hearts been pricked? Remember God is a jealous God, but in a loving way.
What ever happened to denying yourself and taking up the cross? Many say that they are following Jesus yet they're carrying baggage with them. How can you carry your cross and baggage at the same time? Can you say yes and no at the very same time in the very same breath? Can only be one or the other. I don't have all the answers, I'm still growing and learning myself, what I do know may sound a little familiar, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness", after you do that something totally amazingly fantabuloso happens, "and all these things shall be added unto you". Seek Gods will not your own, take that cross up, put all that excess baggage down or expect to get weary, and you might just be closer to what God has planned for you than you think. May God bless and guide you, and by choosing His will, supply you with those fruits you work so hard for. Let His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Most Importantly
Seek the fruits of His Holy Spirit
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23
