Today’s scripture: Isaiah 44:21-28 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Lynnette Pullen-Bradford):
I remember planning my career, before I entered high school. I wanted so much to make a difference in the world, and I was sure I wanted to be a physician. However, by the time I actually got to college, I changed my mind … several times. I started off in marketing, but it quickly became clear that was not my shtick. Hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars later, I find myself holding a degree in the science of occupational therapy.
Fast forward twelve years, and here I am examining my career, adorned with plaques and accolades of all kinds. I hold it in high esteem and often seek guidance from it, letting it guide my direction in life, determine my net worth, and take all the time it needs from me.
When I felt God’s gentle tug pulling me away from my job, my career, I resisted. I absurdly justified my disobedience, citing money and bills as the cause. I wanted to make sure that my family would be well provided for; secretly though, I defined myself by my career. I idolized my career. It may as well have been a golden calf instead of a degree sitting on my desk.
In my mind, I really thought I was doing the right thing. I was working hard and helping people in need. While that is all well and good, I knew that God was asking me to move on and away from this career, on to my next assignment. Even when the jobs dried up and the money thinned, I still stayed. Why?
I was comfortable. I wasn’t ready to leave. I had spent money, effort, and time building this career, and I did not want to just walk away from it. However, with a little more introspection, I uncovered a deep and disturbing truth. It really wasn’t the job I had put on the pedestal; it was me.
I put my own abilities, talents, skills, and desires in front of God’s direction for my life. Isn’t that what an idol is anyway? An inanimate creation from our own work that we hold in too high esteem? I took the tools that God gave me and built something with it. But then I let that something become more than what it was intended to be in my life and in my heart.
The truth is, it’s just a job. Just an education. A set of God-given skills enhanced by human instruction. If God tells me to move on and work on developing a whole new set of skills, in a brand new field, who am I not to obey? Is my allegiance to my field or to my Lord? It’s a silly question when posed like that, it seems. Funny, I never looked at it like that until now.
I underwent what was supposed to be a simple surgery and was expected to recover within 4-6 weeks. Almost 7 months later, I find myself just now healing enough to safely work. During my unplanned sabbatical, I had the opportunity to reflect on my job and my current place in life. I know it is time for me to quit my job and destroy my idol. I have an overwhelming sense that God is redirecting my path and turning me around, sort of like Jonah in the whale.
I am not sure how all of this will play out. I am sure, though, that God has something awesome planned for me. I look forward to new opportunities and new open doors.
Prayer for the day: God, thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You for helping us to see the modern-day idols we erect in our hearts. Help us to keep You at the helm of our lives, and guide us as we traverse unchartered seas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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