How to come back from vacation

Going on vacation always causes the inner struggle of what it means to go back to work.

It means no more sleeping late, no more constantly inhaling junk food, no more sitting in the sand reading for hours, no more snuggling with your nieces and nephews.

Vacation causes you to think: What's the purpose of my work, the reason I'm needed there? Why do I exhaust myself day after day, year after year?

And then come the voices of others: How long do you see yourself there? Are you making enough money to live off of, or do you ever wish you were doing something more closely related to your degree?

While these are all good, genuine questions, they can cause you to doubt why you do what you do.

I've been reading Ecclesiastes and thinking about how all work and toil under the sun is meaningless. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said so, therefore there must be some truth to that statement. So why even bother to go back to work?

Going through the book of Ecclesiastes is a great example of how you should never take Scripture out of context. Simply reading a few passages from Solomon's depressing revelations of meaningless work can cause one to stop and think, "Well, what's the point?"

But you can't stop there. After struggling with thoughts of, "Should I really be doing this," the Lord led me to a passage in Matthew where Jesus sends out the twelve disciples. Paired with Solomon's warnings about meaningless work, I realized that Solomon was right. All work is meaningless. But there shouldn't be a period to end that sentence.

All work is meaningless if you are working for man, but all work is meaningful if you are working for the Lord. 

Jesus told His disciples to go preach about the kingdom of Heaven. He told them take no money, no bag, no extra clothes. He wanted them to be completely dependent on God for their provisions. 

He told them to stand firm, to not be afraid. He promised them that they were worth more than many sparrows, a bird that was nearly worthless in Jesus' day. Jesus pointed out that not one of these nearly-worthless birds were forgotten by God. If the God of the universe did not misplace a single sparrow, why should we be afraid that God will not provide for us in the midst of our work?

Jesus has given us a great task: Go out and tell the world about His good news, no matter your job or your lifestyle. Do not fear a lack of possessions, a lack of income or a lack of security. Know that He provides for you in all things, in all circumstances.

Working is not about what you do, who your boss is or what your friends think about your job. It's about realizing you work for your Creator. Only then will you find meaning in what you do. Only then will you find motivation to come back from vacation excited and ready to go!

Isaiah 50:10

Don't you hate it when you tell someone you're praying for something specific, like the ability to trust more, and that person tells you, "You better be careful when you pray for something like that, because God will just give you an opportunity to trust instead of just giving you the ability to trust!"

While the Christian sayings that we all have memorized can prove annoying and sometimes frustrating, I have to admit that I agree with the above statement in a way.

Just like working a muscle, you won't simply become strong by saying you want to have strength. It takes moments of working hard to grow strong. But don't you love the moments when you know your strength is growing?

It's a beautiful thing when opportunities come where you obviously must choose to trust or not to trust God. Moments when all seems dark and the only thing getting you through is the hope found in your Savior.

Those are the moments that people are talking about when God "gives you the opportunity to trust" instead of just giving you trust. Here's a verse to spur you on to trusting the Lord.

Isaiah 50:10 ~ "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God."

A word of caution, though. The verse that follows the one above warns those who try to create their own light. Who use their own means to get through the darkness. Isaiah warns that this will only lead to torment.

Remember these words as you walk through whatever darkness, temptation or difficulties come your way. Remember these words even in the times of laughter and light. Trusting isn't just about times of struggle, but also about times of joy. In any and all circumstances.