Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Your Work or God's Work?

“The way to success and a broad, beautiful outlook on life more often than not leads over obstacles and up a stiff climb before we reach the hilltop.” Laura Ingalls Wilder
Have you ever started the week on Monday and by Tuesday realized you’re already behind? This sums up my life more often than not lately. The more I cross off my to-do list, the more the list multiplies—almost like rabbits—before my eyes. I ask myself: Where does all this stuff come from? Well, me, of course. J But, like Laura Ingalls Wilder observed, life often leads over obstacles and up a stiff climb before we reach the hilltop. 
Do you ever feel this way? If so, how do you strive to find joy and rely on God’s strength at the same time? Is it through trial and error—or placing your faith in God’s plans, no matter what?
Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my favorite authors. She left a treasure trove of writings, not only her Little House books but decades of journals and newspaper columns. One of my favorites is her recollection of how she came to understand the difference between her work and God’s work. 
Laura was 15 years old when she became a school teacher to help support her family. At 18, she married Almanzo Wilder and became a farmer’s wife. Three years later, Almanzo suffered a stroke after having diphtheria and never fully regained his strength or health. Laura became his hands and feet, helping him to harness horses and do farm work, much like she had been sister Mary’s eyes after she became blind when they were children.
A few months after Almanzo’s stroke, Laura gave birth to a second child, a son, who died two weeks later. A month later, a fire destroyed their home. At age 22, Laura packed up the family to spend a year with Almanzo’s parents in Minnesota, then two years in Florida to help rehab his legs outside of a frigid northern climate.
After returning to their South Dakota home, Laura did the unthinkable for a married woman in the 1890s. She took a job outside of the home—working as a seamstress for ten hours a day, six days a week, at a dollar a day to earn money to move again. With $100 in savings, at age 27, she and Almanzo with daughter Rose left the Dakotas for good and moved to the Missouri Ozarks where they spent the rest of their lives. 
Did she have moments of despair? No doubt. But did she let the hardships consume her or shake her faith? This is from her writings:
“There were dry years in the Dakotas when we were beginning our life together. How heartbreaking it was to watch the grain we had sown with such high hopes wither and turn yellow in the hot winds! And it was backbreaking as well as heartbreaking to carry water from the well to my garden and see it dry up despite all my efforts. I said at that time that thereafter I would sow the seed, but the Lord would give the increase, if there was any, for I could not do my work and that of Providence also by sending the rain on the gardens of the just and the unjust.” (Words from a Fearless Heart)
Are you struggling to discern the difference between your role and that of God’s in your life and work? Take heart from this prayer the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians, and ultimately for all believers:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
Please take a moment to lift up in prayer those on the prayer list and Sgt. Jesse McCart as he continues rehab. If you have a need, please share in the comments section or email me confidential requests. 
God bless,
Laura
©Laura Hodges Poole
Photo courtesy of Microsoft.com free clip art

12 comments:

  1. What a blessing Laura to show how someone we admire turned a listening ear, open heart and yielding hands to God's work in her life.

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    1. I'm glad you were blessed by the message, Chris. Thanks for stopping by. God bless you.

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  2. Such a good reminder. I remember reading how she lost that $100 bill when it was time to pay for the homestead they wanted to buy. She put her trust in the Lord, and then found it in a small slit in her portable secretary. Thanks for this beautiful post.

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    1. Yes, she did, Jody. I see you're also a LIW fan. She's always been an inspiration to me. Thanks for stopping by. God bless you.

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  3. What an inspiring story. I am often encouraged by the lives of women in early America. We can all learn in times of hardship, but may we also learn from the faith of others. God's work always yields a bountiful harvest.

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    1. So true. Any time I feel like whining, I think about women like LIW and realize how good I have life. Thanks for stopping by, Tereasa. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. God bless.

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  4. Thanks for this, Laura. Needed to hear it today. Blessings to you! - Angela

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    1. You're welcome, Angela. I'm glad you felt blessed by the post. God bless you, as well. Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. Good post Laura! I found more books to add to my Amazon wish list!

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  6. I loved reading the "Little House on the Prairie" books growing up. Laura was an amazing woman. So much to be learned from women like her.
    Thank you for sharing!

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  7. Laura,
    I am a first time visitor to your very encouraging blog. I have enjoyed reading some of your other posts and am blessed. Thank you for your visit to Deep Roots At Home. Please consider sharing a post or two sometime on Wednesdays (runs 6 days) during the 'EOA' link-up. I look forward to getting to 'know' you :)

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  8. Love this post! Just yesterday, our SS lesson was... what is driving me? Filling up a Heavenly bank or an Earthly Bank. Is what I am doing for the Lord or for my own gain?? Gave me much to think about!
    Thanks for your kind comment on my blog!

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