Daily devotion

He said to me, “You are My servant, Israel, and you will bring Me glory.” I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’S hand; I will trust God for my reward.” ISAIAH 49:3–4 NLT
Have you ever had days where you wondered if what you’re doing here on earth is making a difference?
Please tell me I’m not the only one. Yes, I know raising my children is an incredible calling and generational work. Yes, I understand I bring the Lord glory through raising and caring for them. But some days, it feels pretty fruitless between the diapers and the doodles, the macaroni and the messes. I look to my left and hear her podcast hitting it out of the park, and I look to my right and see her write yet another bestseller. Looking straight ahead in the mirror, I wonder if there is any work I’m doing here that’s good.
On days like this, where comparison is croaking away and strength feels shallow, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Isaiah. Even the unswervingly faithful prophet of God felt like how he spent his strength and his work was “useless.” How do we know that? Because he was so honest with the Lord. He wrestled with Him. He bared his emotions to Him. And yet, he always trusted Him. Isaiah gives us a roadmap of how to be faithful and be in a close, dependent, trusting relationship with the Lord, even in challenging situations. Let go of thinking you can’t wrestle with our loving, all-knowing Creator. Let go of thinking you’re the only one whose work feels useless sometimes. Bare it to our good God and leave it all in the Lord’s hands.
O God, You know what situation came to mind when I read this devotional. Please help me spend some time transparently bringing it to You—totally, honestly, fully. Amen.
REFLECT: Which part is more difficult for you: wrestling honestly with God or being able to say, “Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward”?
This is an excerpt from Living Open-Handed: Devotions for Surrendering Control and Finding Joy in the Unexpected by Shruthi Parker – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.
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