Obedience Doesn't Have to be Fun

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way; it's up to you." My version of God's message about obedience

"Whoa, Nellie," I said to my husband. "Slow this trail ride down." Not enjoying where the conversation was headed, I was hoping we could change the subject or at least agree to disagree.

"When my dad retires in a few months, I really need you to step in and work at the business," he responded, not getting the hint. "I know you've never really wanted to be involved because mixing too much family and business can cause problems, but Dad'll be gone." Then he played his ace, "And I need you."

I'm a journalist and a public relations practitioner, not a...well, whatever I'd be at the business. Besides, I don't know much about nuts and bolts. Without product knowledge, how much help could I be? I continued to have this silent dialogue with God, trying to convince Him that He'd made a silly little mistake and he'd passed the crazy notion on to my husband. I continued resisting until God's persistent push was about to land me on my face.

"OK, I'll work in our family business, but I'm not necessarily going to like it," I said. Both of them (God and my husband) were agreeable with my terms. I slowly learned the difference between screws and bolts, how to identify materials and measurement specs. It was like learning a new language. I worked in the inclement warehouse (sweltering heat in the summer and numbing cold in the winter), learning how to package and stock items on the shelves or how to pull orders. I began helping customers on the phone and at the counter. I learned how to drive the delivery truck and write up invoices.

That was several years ago. While I'll never be the fastener industry expert my husband is, I can get by running the place if I absolutely have to. Our son works in the business now and I'm not required to be as involved. (Whew!)

The point? Sometimes we have to do things we really don't want to do. If God is telling us it's what He wants, resisting will only delay the inevitable. Leviticus 26:3-20 spells it all out clearly: If we obey God, He'll bless us (in the short or long haul) beyond anything we could imagine. If we don't, we can expect some bad stuff like "sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy our sight and drain away our lives." Ewww

I pick option A. If God wants me to serve in a new way, remain in an uncomfortable job, befriend an unpleasant person or sacrifice my possessions, I'm in. I've seen God's power and ability to get my attention. He lets us choose— the easy way or the hard way. I pick A. How about you?