I have been a cranky Christian lately.

I admit it.

It’s because I have felt overwhelmed and stressed.

I once heard someone say, “I’m too blessed to be stressed” and thought that was just plain naive! I thought that sounded a bit like bumper sticker theology. It rhymed, but wasn’t based in reality.

So, here I was. Totally overwhelmed with three big deadlines and very little time!

And, then, I heard myself on the phone… “I’ve got to do this…” and, “I’ve got to get that done by…” and, “I have to finish this week or…”

I heard it and it dawned on me…

I sounded like a prisoner grudgingly doing my chores just so the warden might see and let me out early for good behavior.

I was doing a good work, but with a bad attitude.

My voice was full of dread and everything I said made it sound like the projects I was working on were just plain drudgery.

I was a cranky Christian, not a grace-driven girl.

So, I thought of that annoying saying about being too blessed to be stressed and laughed out loud. Yep. I guess it is true.

If I focus on how blessed I am just a little bit more than how stressed I am, my whole attitude can change.

My prayer changed from… “God, help me with all I have to do” to… “Help me see the joy in what I get to do.”

I wanted to experience my work as a privilege that I am eager to do — I get to do this!!! — I don’t have to, I get to.

So, now, instead of saying I “have” to do anything, I say, I “get” to do this.

• I get to write seven video messages.
• I get to travel to New Jersey to speak.
• I get to fly home just in time to film those seven messages that I will have memorized.
• I get to finish writing a bible study on Hosea.
• I get to write a book entitled: Invisible: How You Feel Is Not Who You Are!

I get to do these things because I am blessed.

Instead of me feeling like the puny prisoner who has to push, pull, prod, and plead to get everything done, I am the free girl who sees these tasks as a privilege to perform.

Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t still feel stress, oh, I still do if I think about it too much. But, when I do feel stress, I say, “I get to do these things and it is my joy because it is God’s job to pull it off!”

I am not the only one who struggles with this. I bet you do too. So, start noticing when you say “I have to” and quickly change it to “I get to.”

Look at whatever you “get” to do as your joy because it is God’s job!

He can turn your striving into a work of grace.

Say it with me my stressed out sisters… my joy, God’s job!

Whatever you get to do can be a joy because it is God’s job to accomplish it through you!

“It is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure…” (Philippians 2:13)

And, all the sisters said… AMEN!!!!!!!

Question: What actions do you take to see your job as a joy?