Don't Give Up! - 11/5/13

So... work kinda sucks right now. My job was already semi crazy with my unit being called upon to participate/lead the business requirements, aspects of design, sign off on the specs, test, train, and provide post-release support for this application. (Geez, that was a mouthful. 2 years ago, I would've said HUH?). But with the paradigm shift to the new stuff, we are still doing all of that but without an identified, consistent business process to stand on. So, if I were compare it to something in real life. It's like buying a bookcase from IKEA. You bring the box home, open it, and spread the pieces on the floor. Then someone steals the instruction manual and the box. So, you know what you're trying to put together, but you have nothing to go on, except that you know it's supposed to be a bookcase. Oh, and the bookcase has to be built by Friday so you can give it to your Grandmother for her 85th birthday. (Ok, so that analogy kinda sucked. Sorry!) Anyway, all that to say that for me, work is not fun right now. It almost feels like punishment. And since it's so yucky, instead of coming home and being productive, I don't want to do anything, but recreation and relaxation. My brain can't even handle anything else.

So, Maryn, how are you going to get through this? How can you take your mind off of this ongoing drama?
Look to the Word! (cue the trumpets!) 50-million-trillion examples of how God's people have persevered through difficult situations and made it out on the other side, and were better for it!

Hebrews 12:5-7;10-13 
"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.. Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."

So punishment now helps us to achieve holiness later and our toil produces a harvest of good things. While my job may not really be that much like punishment, I'm confident that in the end it will still produce a reward. There's no telling where all of this will lead to. At this point, I'm pretty sure I could do anything!

1 Corinthians 9:24-26
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."

Our work has purpose and we must keep going until we get there. Our earthly work will yield an earthy reward and eventually our overall works will yield a heavenly reward. Another point is that people are watching you. So to show up to work and just sit there and stare at the ceiling... sounds awesome to me... but alas, we must be good examples and work as if we have something to prove.

Isaiah 40:29-31
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." 

One of my favorite passages of scripture! Keep crawling, walking, running until you get there! This will not last forever!


And a video for today, because I love music and everything makes me think of a song -BlueLady