We all had dreams of what we would be when we grew up. Passionate dreams. High, godly desires. Things like saving starving children in Africa or taking the Gospel to an unreached people group on a remote island.
Okay, maybe our goals weren’t quite so lofty, but we thought we would make our mark for the kingdom of God, and we knew we would be passionate about whatever it was that God had for us.
And then chances are we got married, were passionate enough alright, and now we have children. We became moms.
So now here we are, struggling to be just as passionate about being moms as we thought we’d be with our hair on fire out on the mission field. Meanwhile, this load of laundry isn’t going to do itself. What gives?
Not to worry. First of all, those hair on fire dreams of passionate passioning never end up so passionate after all. But that aside, the Bible doesn’t actually demand that we live a passionate life.
The Bible does say we should have joy and love God and our neighbor. We show our love for God by our obedience, not our passion:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23)
Obeying God takes real faith. And with that faith, hard work. When we dreamed of living passionate lives as girls, what we were really dreaming of is a life that mattered and was exciting. One that came naturally.
But for some, mother doesn’t come naturally. And motherhood isn’t a spiritual gift. God calls us to obedience to do His will. And that will may include mothering a small herd of children or it may include painful waiting for children. His will in your life may include disinfecting your house from pinworms or potty training someone.
Obedience to God means serving our children, even though we feel disgusted and anything but passionate about wiping up snot. Obedience by faith means getting out of bed before you want to, so your family can eat breakfast.
Obedience is stronger than passion. Obedience puts God’s will at the center of your actions, rather than your own desires and feelings.
God has commanded us to be fruitful and multiply and to raise up a Godly seed. So in a season of weariness and gray emotion, let obedience spur you on.
A beautiful thing happens as you look to Christ and obey. Your work becomes joyful, the sacrifices pale and the promises of God become bright.
