Would you ever sign up for a job if you knew you would be met with resistance and may not even be listened to?
I know I wouldn’t, yet parenthood seems to fit that description on SOME days lol.
I recall when my children were toddlers and I told them to put their toys away. They actually thought it was a good time to keep playing.
When they grew older, I found myself reminding them about getting their chores done. They thought it was a great time to … well, do anything else.
As they became teenagers, there were life lessons that I knew I had to impart. They thought they knew everything and were not interested in what I had to say.
Can you relate, my Friend???
Those have been some trying moments … moments when I was overwhelmed … moments when I questioned my ability as a parent … moments when I just wanted to plain ol’ quit.
But I knew this role is what God called me to and I wanted to remain obedient to Him. I had to choose to trust Him in the midst of temper tantrums, rolling eyes, and silent treatment. I knew what I was doing was not in vain, but rather for God’s glory.
1 Kings 2:3 reminds us to “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to Him, and keep His … commands … Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”
In the Old Testament, Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet. God clearly told him in chapter 2 that the people may or may not listen. He told Ezekiel that they were rebellious and stubborn. But God told him to listen and to speak His words of judgment.
Wow! What a challenging task to take on. Not only did Ezekiel do it, but he did so with immense devotion to God’s Word. Towards the end of the book, he was also able to communicate words of hope just as other prophets have.
Wherever you find yourself today with the challenges and tasks ahead of you, I hope you will find yourself encouraged by this verse: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
~Joyce
Photo Credit: NeONBRAND on Unsplash
