Seeing Work, Rest, and Purpose Through an Eternal Lens
Labor Day is coming to an end. Perhaps you are on your way home after a good weekend away. Perhaps, like many others, you stayed close to home, rested, caught up on a few things, spent time with family or friends, or simply enjoyed a slower pace.
As I think about the weekend ending, I find myself looking beyond the holiday and considering the larger journey we are all traveling. That is The Rich View for today—not merely looking at what is immediately in front of us, but stepping back and asking where we are, where we are going, and how God wants us to live along the way.
A short one minute video.
However we spent the weekend, the familiar routines of life are waiting. The bags must be unpacked. The laundry must be done. Appointments are on the calendar. Children return to school. Many people return to work.
But while we were resting—or perhaps trying to rest—the world did not stop.
News reports continue to tell us about wars, earthquakes, floods, fires, violence, political division, and people facing terrible loss. We may return from a peaceful few days only to discover that the world still feels uncertain and troubled. It can be difficult to know how to carry all of it.
A Long and Uncertain Journey
Life is a long journey, although it may not always feel long. For some, the journey is just beginning. They are choosing a career, beginning a marriage, raising children, or trying to discover the direction their lives should take.
Others are somewhere in the middle. They are working hard, caring for family members, adjusting to changes, or wondering whether the life they imagined is the life they are actually living.
Still others know they are nearer the end than the beginning. They look back over many years of joys, disappointments, accomplishments, losses, lessons, and evidence of God’s faithfulness. They may wonder how much time remains and what God still wants them to do.
Where are you on the journey?
The truth is that none of us knows exactly how near or far we are from the end. Age does not guarantee tomorrow, and youth does not guarantee a long life. James reminds us that we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Our lives are like a mist that appears briefly and then vanishes (James 4:13–15).
That truth is not meant to frighten us. It is meant to help us live wisely, gratefully, and faithfully today.
Our Times Are in God’s Hands
David prayed, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15).
Those words offer reassurance when world events feel overwhelming and our personal future feels uncertain. Our lives are not outside God’s sight. He knows where we have been, where we are today, and what lies ahead.
He is present in the peaceful seasons and in the storms. He is with those beginning their journey, those carrying heavy responsibilities in the middle, and those approaching the final chapters of earthly life.
We cannot control world events. We cannot predict tomorrow. We cannot hold on to every person, possession, plan, or season. But we can place ourselves in the hands of the One who holds time itself.
Back to Work—but Not Alone
As Labor Day ends, many of us will say, “Back to work.” For some, that means returning to a job. For others, work may mean caring for a spouse, encouraging a grieving friend, volunteering at church, helping a neighbor, praying for family, or faithfully handling the ordinary duties of another day.
Whatever form our work takes, we do not face it alone. God is present in the office, the classroom, the home, the hospital room, the church, the volunteer assignment, and the quiet responsibilities that few other people ever see.
Work Is More Than a Job
Work is not merely how we earn a living; it is one of the ways we participate in what God is doing in the world.
Whatever our age or season, God can use our abilities, experiences, relationships, and daily responsibilities for His purposes. Our work may involve a career, caring for someone, encouraging a grieving friend, volunteering, praying, writing, or simply helping a neighbor.
The form of our work may change, but our opportunity to serve God and others does not end.
Your work may no longer come with a title or paycheck, but that does not mean your life has lost its purpose. As long as God gives us breath, there are people to love, prayers to pray, words of encouragement to offer, and acts of service to perform.
Our daily work is part of a much larger calling. God can use our abilities, experiences, hardships, relationships, and present circumstances for His purposes. A job may end and retirement may begin, but our opportunity to serve God and others continues. I explored this more fully in my recent post, Purpose: Embracing Your Unique Design in Life.
We do not have to solve every problem in the world. We can begin with the people and opportunities God has placed within our reach. We can ask:
Lord, what is the next faithful step You want me to take today?
Perhaps your next step is returning to work with a better attitude. Perhaps it is calling someone who is alone. Perhaps it is resting because your body and spirit need renewal. Perhaps it is making peace, offering forgiveness, asking for help, or beginning something God has placed on your heart.
Whatever the next step may be, we do not take it alone. Jesus still says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28–30).
So, as Labor Day ends and we return to work, perhaps the better question is not simply, “What must I do tomorrow?” but:
“Lord, how can I faithfully serve You in the work You have given me for this season?”
Encouragement for Today
If the news has made you anxious, remember that God is still sovereign.
If returning to work feels heavy, remember that God will meet you there.
If you are uncertain about your future, remember that your times are in His hands.
If you feel that your most useful years are behind you, remember that your calling has no expiration date.
If the journey feels lonely, remember that the Lord has promised never to leave you.
And if you are tired, you do not need enough strength for the entire journey today. Ask God for the grace and strength needed for the next faithful step.
Questions for Reflection
- Where am I on the journey of life—near the beginning, somewhere in the middle, or closer to the end?
- What worries am I carrying about the world or about my own future?
- What would it mean for me to truly believe, “My times are in Your hands”?
- What work has God placed before me in this present season?
- What is my next faithful step?
A Closing Prayer
Lord, as this holiday weekend ends and we return to the responsibilities of life, quiet our anxious hearts. The world often feels uncertain, and we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Thank You that our times are in Your hands.
Be near to those suffering because of war, disaster, violence, illness, grief, or loneliness. Give wisdom to leaders, strength to those who serve, and hope to those who have lost so much.
Show each of us the work You have placed before us. Help us not to be overwhelmed by everything we cannot do, but to be faithful in what we can do. Give us courage for the next step, strength for today, and confidence that You will be with us throughout the journey.
Teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. May our remaining days—whether many or few—be lived with faith, purpose, gratitude, and love.
In Jesus’s name, amen.
Well spoken, Richard!
Thanks Sam. Have a great day!