There Is No Heavier Burden Than a Great Opportunity
Years ago, someone bought a bunch of billboards on the interstate we often travel. With no reference to a company or a cause, they simply said…
“There is no heavier burden than a great opportunity.”
Obviously that struck me.
What is my ‘heavy burden’?
I don’t want to miss out on my great opportunity.
What could I be? What am I missing?
Most of us drift into our career paths. With the exception of professionals like doctors, lawyers, nurses, and accountants, only a fraction of us end up in fields we were formally educated for. Most of us go out looking for a job and we take the best job that’s offered. After we’ve done that a few times, we end up far from where we thought we would. Chemistry majors sell plumbing supplies. Industrial engineers teach chemistry. It’s just the way capitalism seems to work.
But as a Christ-follower, I believe there’s an invisible hand that directs our steps. When we trust that hand, His hand, we can reduce our anxiety and relax into the role and responsibility that we’ve been given. I love Psalm 16:5-6. It says….
“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful
inheritance.”
Don’t you love the quiet confidence you feel when you read and embrace that?
I’ve come to realize that my “great opportunity” is the job I’ve been given…right now!
We have the opportunity to be grateful for the responsibilities we’ve been entrusted with. The fact that God may be using this job to prepare us for future ones gives us even more confidence. And when we “do our work heartily as to the Lord”, we build a reputation for ourselves; people come to respect how we think, what we can do, and our character…who we are as people. Over time, we distinguish ourselves and sometimes, great opportunities come our way.
It’s easy to think back on your path and think you ‘chickened out’ on some great opportunity… some chance of a lifetime. But we believe in an omnipotent, omniscient God who never makes mistakes. You are where you are for a reason. You didn’t miss out… He had other plans for you. And He still does.
Grow where you’re planted. Relieve your ‘heavy burden’ by grabbing the ‘great opportunity’ that’s right in front of you. Love God and trust Him for today…for every day of your work life. He is good. He will provide for you. He will direct your steps.
Question: Will you take a deep breath right now and thank God for where you are? For the job He has you in? Tell us about how it felt by leaving a comment here.
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Responses (18)
The Lord is in control whether we like it or not. It is almost like the Lord had your message specifically for me this morning. He is a powerful God!. Thanks!
That’s great to hear Chris. Sure am glad God is good and that He loves me extravagantly. His power is only equaled by His love and grace. I’m convinced that if He ever edits the Bible and adds anything, He’ll add a the line from the Rolling Stones…”You can’t always get what you want. But if you’ll try sometime you just might find, you get what you need.” Isn’t that just like a perfect loving father? Isn’t it comforting to rest in knowing that He’ll give us what we need, even if it’s not what we want? Regi
needed that today, it is awesome to understand and realize the plans God has for me, plans to prosper me and give me His good and pleasant success, to live in His presence, feel His rest around me,and trust Him only…thanks
I confessed to Him the other day that I felt that I’d drifted a little…that I wasn’t as close to Him as I had been or wanted to be. As clear as a bell, my next thought was “move toward those in pain…that’s where you’ll find me, if you’re looking!” I reached out to one of my guys who’s in a marital mess right now and sure enough, God was at work. And I was right there, sensing His presence again. He reminded me that He’s in beauty and joy too. If we’ll look for Him, we’ll find Him there as well. Regi
Regi,
Thank you for the timely blog post. My situation is a bit different because the Lord recently pulled me from my previous job. The past three months I’ve been in this new place of no job and yet the Psalm still applies. “the boundary lines have for me fallen in pleasant places”. This has been a time of refreshing and a time of working on some important leadership responsibilities in my church. It has also been a time for reading and studying. One of the new discoveries has been Radical Mentoring and God is forming new thoughts in my life regarding this important role as well. So no job but the “invisible hand” is definitely in control and preparing me for my next career journey. Thank you for your encouraging thoughts. Mark
Thanks Mark. We’re glad you found us, and trusting that God will lead you to the next step in your professional journey…and soon! Regi
Great reminder Regi!
There’s a season of thankfulness that I think we’ll be moving into in the coming months. It’s been flowing over me lately and I see it moving through the church.
Can’t wait til it’s all over the place.
…me too Joseph!
Regi –
Thanks you so much for this much needed message. This is the first time I have received a post from this site and it sure hit home for me. I mean it really hit home with me. Not only am I struggling with where I am professionally, but I also am dealing with some debilitating health issues.
I know the referenced verses in my head, they just are not in my heart right now. I commit to praying over your message as a first step.
Thanks again.
When He says “my portion and my cup”, I think about Jesus asking God if there was any other way to avoid His “cup”. It helps to know that what’s coming at me came from His hand, whether it’s bliss or pain. He made it happen or allowed it to happen. He’s omnipotent. I went through a ‘dark night of the soul’ not too long ago. It ended when He reminded me that He is good…all good…that He loves me…and that He and only He knows what ‘good’ is for me. Hang in there Tyler!
Thanks Regi.
Thanks for all of these posts. They are definitely making a difference, and I’m forwarding them to others. This one in particular struck me today. I’m grinding through how to make my next career move, and this grounded me. God will show me when it’s time.
Thanks again.
Thanks Ty.
Hmmm…as I sit and thank the Lord for this job – I know that in 6 weeks I am walking away from this job to take a leap of faith and step into the ministry the Lord has called me to. Have been tryin to do it half time – and I am convicted that’s not what He is calling me to. So – I thank the Lord for this job and for the future He has prepared for me – even if the paycheck is miniscule. God provides all we need.
You bet He does. Godspeed Pat!
Right now, I do not have a job. I resigned my pastorate in December (God led me to do it) and have not looked back. Even though I have passed the 4 month mark without a new ministry, I thank God for where He has me right now.
A new assignment from God will come in His time. As Paul says, “I am learning to be content in every circumstance.” I am glad it is His plan! Thanks for the blog entry!
Thanks Jim. Make your job finding a job…go after it hard, but trust Him for the outcome!
I saw this same random billboard in 1982. I was 28 years old and had just stumbled into a job with enormous potential and feared I would not seize the opportunity. That billboard was tattooed into my psyche and I have never forgotten it. Well all these years have passed and I am close to turning 60. The drive to not have regrets and seize the opportunity drove me to success beyond my wildest dreams. My only advice to those who feel the burden of a great opportunity is to take it one day at a time. Ask yourself “How did I do today?” Today is all you can control and tomorrow may bring a great surprise.