More Than “Just”

You’ve been on my mind lately. As God continues to refine this “holy hustle” message He’s given me, I’ve been thinking about you and wanted to encourage you today. No matter what you call the work you do, or where God has called you to do it, I want you to know that you are more than “just” a [ fill in the blank ]. We give ourselves that label far too easily, don’t we? We downplay our talents by saying “Oh, it’s just something I do for fun.” Or we discredit our value in building God’s kingdom because we “just” work at home, or we “just” teach, or we “just” run a company or we “just” volunteer.

I wonder if we do that out of some sense of expectation to be humble with our gifts? If we throw “just” in front of what we’re talking about, will it look less like bragging? It might. I’ve done it. But I’ve been thinking about you and the work God might be calling you to do, and I can’t help but think of Ephesians 3:10-13.

And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!

All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. When we trust in him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go. So don’t let my present trouble on your behalf get you down. Be proud!

You are a mom.

You are a wife.

You are a sister.

You are a friend.

You are a daughter of God.

You are a writer.

You are a creator.

You are an entreprenuer.

You are an artist.

You are a servant.

You are a teacher.

You are a CEO.

You are a volunteer.

You are an athlete.

You are exactly who God created you to be and you can proclaim those titles with boldness, not because of the pride we have in our own accomplishments but because we shine that light right back onto God. He gets the glory. He gets the accolades and the rewards and the fame. Not us. We can boldly claim who we are in Christ because of what He has done in us and through us and to us. Adding “just” does nothing except allow doubt about our worth & our work to creep in to our hearts, keeping us from doing the very tasks God has set before us.

Do not doubt who you are, where you are, or what God is calling you to do in that space. You are more than “just.” Work hard and rest well and live with confidence this week, friends.