Love What You Do

Do you love what you do, momma?

Blogger. Accountant. Photographer. Sales woman. School secretary. Engineer. Administrative Assistant. Teacher. Cake Decorator. Sleep Consultant. Author. Marketing Professional. Health Coach. Etsy Shop owner. Quality Assurance Analyst. Online Freelancer. Momma.

A handful of you filled out my working mom survey and told me this is what you do. You all inspire me!

But I’m going to ask again: do you love what you do? I hope so. There is nothing more fulfilling than waking up each morning excited to get to work. To not hate Mondays is a beautiful thing.

But what happens on those days when you aren’t excited to get out of bed? A lot of people hate what they do. And even if you love what you do, there will be mornings when you just don’t want to do it. We dread the upcoming deadline, the balancing act of working and motherhood, the conflict that we need to address, or talking with that person who just gets under our skin.

Consider this: even if you hate what you do, you can love what you do.

Sounds impossible, but so is a lot of what God calls us to do. But with Christ it is possible (Mark 10:27). It all starts with what we know of God’s work.

God’s Work: Creation

The very first verse of the Bible tells us about God’s work.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

God didn’t start working because he had to pay the bills. He didn’t need to find purpose for His life. God started working because he wanted creation for His glory (Isaiah 43:6-7) and because God loved us even before the world began (1 John 3:1; Ephesians 1:4). He loves us. He wants us. He put in work in order to get us. He found joy in his work (Genesis 1: 3,10,12, 18, 25, 31). For His glory and because of His love.

As working mommas, we can look at God’s example of work and strive to emulate Him.  Everything we do, everything we work for, should start with bringing God glory and sharing His love with his creation (everyone/everything).

Whatever work you have do, do it to glorify God, first, and to love others the way God loves you, second. If we prioritize the reasons why we work and how we work, joy in our work will come. You will love what you do.

It’s going to be hard. At home, at the office, at the grocery store, and stuck in traffic. We have a habit of making what we do about us instead of about God and others. So, let’s try this:

Wherever you work (which includes at home), write “Remember God’s work: glorify God & love others”  on a sticky note and put it somewhere you will see it regularly. Let this be a reminder to model God’s work and to love what you do: by glorifying God and loving others. The more we remind ourselves of this truth, the easier it will become to make it the focus of our work.

Jesus’ Work: Death Resurrection

Jesus didn’t die on the cross out of obligation or because it was the “right” thing to do. The work of the cross was to bring God glory through his sacrificial love for us. That same glory and love that started God’s work with creation was driving the work of His Son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17

Jesus’ work was hard, grueling, and impossible for anyone to do but Him (Revelation 5). There is no question that the work of the cross is unlike anything we will ever be tasked with. But just like God’s work in creation, we are reminded that all work should begin with bringing God glory and loving others. And oh, what joy came from this tremendous work!

God found joy in His son through his work on earth (Mark 3:17). Jesus brought joy to all because his completed work meant eternity with God for all who believed in Him (John 11:25-26).

Grab another sticky note and write, “Jesus’ work: glorify God, love others, bring joy to all”.

Holy Spirit’s Work: Counselor

After the work of creation and the work of the cross, the Holy Spirit began a great work. Everyone who believes in the name of Jesus Christ will be saved and receive the Holy Spirit as a Counselor (John 14:16-17).

The Holy Spirit glorifies God by speaking truth and light into His children when they need it most (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit loves others by filling us with God’s love (Romans 5:5) and joy (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

Together, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the trinity: three persons in one God. They all work for God’s glory, loving others, and are the definition of true, pure joy.

Momma, there is no greater example, no more practical model to imitate, than that of God himself to love the work we have to do here on earth.

A Momma’s Work: Love What You Do

Our work means nothing for our salvation because it’s not something we work for, but something we’re given. But momma, with our salvation secure, we all have work to do here on earth. And no matter what it is we are doing, the why and the how should be in service to Him.

As you go about your work, keep this in mind:

1. Your identity is found in nothing else but in Jesus Christ. You are a daughter of God. All other descriptors of yourself should be miles away on the list. Even the title of momma.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

First and foremost, we are serving Jesus Christ. Not our children, not our students, not our customers, not our clients…they all come second to Christ. When conflict arises, remember who you are really trying to please.

2. On those days when your work makes you miserable, remember that God’s work is not always amazing either. When God called for Adam and Eve in the garden after the first sin, when He sent His son to earth, when Jesus agonized on the cross, when God turned His back on Jesus because he was covered with our sin, during the three days His body laid dead in a tomb – these were not happy times.

But they all brought God glory and demonstrated His amazing love. And the outcome of all of this work is an indescribable joy that we can’t fully comprehend this side of heaven.

Bad days will come. But hold on to the truth that joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30)!

3. What you do makes a difference in this world. But it doesn’t matter what you do. It’s the why and how that matter. As a bottom of the barrel mom example: you can clean up bodily fluids all day long and still bring glory to God while filled with joy.

Ask yourself why you are doing what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Are you grumping at everyone within earshot and throwing yourself a pity party? Or are you thanking God for the opportunity to help someone who is in dire need and that you can show them His love in a very real, unique way?  

While everyone wants to do what they love, ultimately it doesn’t matter what you do. You can sell Norwex, nanny, teach, own your own etsy shop, blog, climb the corporate ladder, or stay at home with your kids. God has placed you exactly where you need to be to make the most impact for His name and His kingdom. It’s your choice as a working momma to follow the example laid out for us in the Bible.

Momma, love what you do by how you do it.

MORE RESOURCES FOR THE JESUS LOVIN’ MOM BOSS

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Find more Messy Tired Love resources for the working mom here.

Messy Tired Love publishes devotionals that connect everyday mom moments with the truth of the gospel. Explore the devotionals here.

You can also check out our resources page for game-changing resources for the gospel-centered momma. All of the resources have been or are personally used by me (Kristina) and are among the best of the best: resources to dive deeper into your faith, children’s books and bibles, and parenting books.