Difficult Jobs

“Now may the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21, ESV)

Some jobs are difficult! They can be dirty, smelly, or just plain hard work. When I was younger, I would add such jobs to a mental “never want to do that” list. It wasn’t that I found the jobs unimportant, but I knew it was something I could not do it. While doing a little online reading, I discovered some very unique jobs. Believe it or not, there are odor testers, pet food tasters, snake milkers, and roadkill collectors, just to name a few.

While I have no desire to perform any of these “unique” jobs, I confess that I’ve also had a few “never want to do that” moments while reading the Bible. Sometimes God hands out difficult assignments . . . very difficult. We may even consider some of them impossible rather than just difficult. But look what happened when they were willing to trust God.

• God told Noah to build an ark, gather supplies, and then fill that ark with animals. As the rain began pouring down, many of those standing outside the sealed door were probably extended family, longtime friends, and neighbors—people he cared about. He knew their fate, but no one had heeded his warning. God kept the eight secure inside the ark.

• God told Gideon there were too many soldiers in the army so send some home. Eventually, only 300 of the original 32,000 remained. Then God sent this small band of men to fight the vast army of the Midianites. Their weapons? Just trumpets and lamps inside pitchers. It was an impossible situation—at least from our human viewpoint. But the impossible becomes possible when we follow God’s directives.

• Before the Lord ascended to heaven, He told His followers that they were to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15, NKJV). What a monumental, and difficult, assignment! Yet in Acts 17:6 the Thessalonians complained, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” The believers were reaching their world with the gospel. They faced many challenges but were fulfilling God’s plan. This particular assignment passes from one generation to the next and is now ours to fulfill.

When God hands us a difficult task, we may be hindered by fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy, or because we compare ourselves to others. Yes, God often stretches us beyond what we feel capable of doing. From our point of view, the task may not only seem difficult but also impossible. God wants us to step outside our comfort zone and into the amazing plan He has orchestrated. Regardless of how difficult the task may seem, He will equip us to face any challenge. Acts 1:8 promises, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

Whatever the assignment, step out with the assurance that God chose you and prepared you for this very moment. Will you accept the assignment? Remember, nothing is impossible with God.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (II Corinthians 9:8, ESV)