January 31, 2020 • Life for Leaders
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43:5 (NIV)
Prayer:
Gracious God, there are times when I love my work, times when it challenges me and gives me an opportunity to use my gifts. And, of course, it helps to pay the bills!
But there are other times, times when my soul is downcast at work, times when I feel so disturbed and discouraged. Sometimes, Lord, I don’t even want to get up in the morning to go to work.
What ought I to do in those sorry times? Self-talk doesn’t get me very far. Neither does looking on the bright side. Duty will get me out of bed, but it doesn’t stir my heart or lift my burden.
O Lord, I need to put my hope in you. I need to turn to you, to open my heart, to pour out my sadness, to hold nothing back from you. I need to remember your abiding faithfulness, your amazing grace. You have plans for me that I may not understand, but your plans are always the best (Jeremiah 29:11). No matter what happens in my work, nothing in all creation can separate me from you love (Romans 8:39).
As I put my hope in you, Lord, help me to praise you, to exalt you once again as my Savior and my God. You are there for me, Lord. You’re in my corner. Thank you! Amen.
Ponder Throughout the Day:
Put your hope in God, even at work.
Explore more at The High Calling archive, hosted by the Theology of Work Project:
Hope in God!
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
More Like This
The scripture reference on today’s email is incorrect. It should be Psalm 43:5, instead of Isaiah 45:9.
Thanks, Regina, for this edit. We made the correction!
Thank you for the wonderful prayer. Just what I needed!
Thanks, Guy, for your encouragement.