It's Worth It

Last weekend I went on a women's leadership retreat.  This was more of a "sharing ideas" and "networking" retreat, not a "learn something new" conference.  It was encouraging to me to hear all that God is doing in the different churches in our Fellowship of Grace Brethren churches in California!  What a blessing to be able to safely share struggles, thoughts, concerns, praises, goals, concepts, etc. with sisters that I've never met, but have an immediate bond because we are in the same district and fellowship.  I was challenged to excel still more as I listened and witnessed the love and passion that these women have for our Lord and their desire to serve Him.

One of the last sessions, one of the pastor's wives was sharing about a church plant.  She told us about the obstacles that they had encountered in their building project... the electrician quit in the middle of the project and her husband, the pastor, took over his job and spent countless hours day and night wearing an additional hat.  She shared about her heart struggle of asking, "Is it worth it?"  

Tonight, Matthew left to go up the mountain to Big Bear for the annual High School Retreat.  He has been attempting (no very successfully) to fight off being sick this last week.  He didn't go to work today and spent a good part of the day sleeping (in preparation for a sleepless weekend).  I know that he will be fine and that he needs to be at the retreat, but I still find myself asking, "Is it worth it?" 

My conclusion, along with the pastor's wife that shared last weekend, is a humble and heartfelt, "Yes, it's worthy it!"  All our efforts, sacrifices, and time is WORTH IT, if what we are doing is motivated by God's grace.  God's work is always WORTH IT, regardless of how foolish it may seem to the world (I Corinthians 1)!  I am blessed to have a husband that is willing to heed God's call to pour his life into serving His Lord with all diligence and to equip the saints for the work of service (Eph 4:12).  I am thankful that my children have a clear understanding and example of what it means to "...work heartily, as for the Lord" (Col 3:23).  

Lord, may our work not be a work of the flesh, which results in fruitless legalism, but work that is empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, which leads to acts of worship and results in joy.  May You find pleasure in our service to You.  May my heart always shout, "IT'S WORTH IT!", because You are worth it... all of it!!!