Do you sometimes wonder what God’s work
is for you? Do you ever feel like you’re drifting without purpose? Or are you overwhelmed by the demands of life? How do you find the work God has for you?
Someone who was following Jesus asked that very question, saying, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus’ response suggests that we may complicate the question.
“Jesus answered . . ., “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:28-29).
Simple, huh? Just believe. The work that God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.
You say, “But that’s too simple. I thought you were talking about work.”
I was, and I am. Sometimes it’s real work to believe. I found belief to be hard when the pantry was low and the checkbook was too. It was even more difficult when I sat in the hospital waiting during Robert’s 2nd heart attack. God did not give any assurance that Robert would survive.
However, the time it was hardest for me to believe was the period when I thought I couldn’t do anything right. I didn’t see how anybody could love me–especially God.
I grew up in a Christian family and had always known God’s blessing and His love. I also knew that “God so loved the world that He gave His only son” (John 3:16). Loving the world was one thing, but I couldn’t believe He could still love me–because I’d messed up too badly after experiencing His tender love.
I searched the Bible, but I couldn’t find where God said He loved me. I desperately wanted to believe, and I worked at it for weeks, but it was hard.
Consequently, I couldn’t stand myself and life was miserable.
One day, I finally escaped to be alone in the corner of a quiet park. I sat in the car, hiding under a big tree as I wrestled with God. Eventually, I said out loud, “I don’t deserve it, but I know You love me. I don’t understand it, and I can’t find it, but I know the Bible tells me so.”
It was work—hard work, but I chose to believe. That labor finally led to peace in my heart.
Your struggle is probably different. The nature of our struggles is irrelevant. No matter what the situations is, we choose what we believe in the midst of trials. We can place our trust in our own experience and understanding, or we can trust in what we know to be true of God, based on His Word—even if we can’t find it in the moment.
Either is work, but when we choose to believe in our own understanding, we are alone.
On the other hand, if we receive and believe the truth of God and accept it “not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, [it] performs its work in you who believe” (1 Th. 2:13). In those times when it’s difficult, if we choose to believe, the Sp
irit of God helps us. He quickens His Word in us. In our weakness, He makes us strong and brings the peace and confidence that we long for.
That time of deep doubt about God’s love produced in me the foundation of an unshakable confidence in His love for me.
Any other work we do will not satisfy us if we don’t have a foundation of belief. Neither will it be pleasing to the Lord, because “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 1:6).
Our work is to believe in Jesus Christ. From that foundation of faith, He can lead us to other work that will glorify Him.
Lord, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9: 24).