Dear Behold friends,
Have you ever worked incredibly hard at something and still received an outcome you did not desire? Maybe you practiced nonstop for a presentation and then completely froze. Maybe you didn’t meet a deadline on a major project. Maybe you prepared a beautiful meal for a toddler and then she promptly threw it all over the floor.
We are so tempted to measure the value of our work by the outcomes that we produce. A job well done means you achieved the success you were aiming for. You nailed the presentation. You delivered on time. The child loved the healthy sweet potato pancakes.
But I was reminded this week that, truly, all our work should be considered prayer—in service to our Lord—no matter the result. When we are working in order to serve God and honor him, the outcome is not always the most important part. What sufferings do we have to offer up to him in the process? What lessons is he trying to teach us while we are in the middle of something?
We should always work hard and aim for the best possible results. But I’m comforted to know that my work, my dutiful attention to the calling that God has placed on my life, can be offered as a prayer, a gift, no matter the measurement of the outcome.
I hope you are able meet God in prayer in the midst of your work next week.
Wishing you a peaceful and restful weekend,
Rebecca and Ope
Memorizing Scripture
We are, together, trying to take up the call in Deuteronomy to “lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul” by memorizing a different psalm each month. This month we are working through Psalm 31:1-8. We’d love for you to join us.
Suggestions for Further Reading
“Called to Die” by Tessa Carman: a reflection on calling with the help of T.S. Eliot and Julian of Norwich in Fare Forward’s issue on Vocation.
“A Christian Work Ethic” by John Starke: a word for the ambitious in The Gospel Coalition.
“By Our Wounds We Are Healed” by Julia Yost: a review of “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma in First Things.
Supporting Behold
Behold is an entirely volunteer run effort, and we always appreciate your help in furthering our mission.
Are you or is anyone you know interested in contributing to our newsletter? We’re looking for friends to submit occasional book reviews. And we’d love to hear from you about what you’re reading. Email us at hello@beholdprayer.com.
As always, download the app here, or forward to a friend and invite them to pray with you.