Why do you do what you do?

Maybe it’s your job, being a stay-at-home parent, or pursuing your education or professional training. Think about what consumes most of your time and your efforts these days.

Now consider: why do you do that thing? What was it that first compelled you to go in that direction? It’s easy for us to get lost in the doing and forget the reason for our direction in life. What’s that expression? You can’t see the forest for the trees.

What I Do

I’m a missionary. I live in Ukraine with my husband and two small kids. We love this life and feel honored that God called us to it. But, just like anyone, there are times when I think, “What in the world are we doing?”

Right now we’re on furlough, and I’ve had lots of those “what am I doing” moments. I look at the toll it takes on our kids. They’re constantly uprooted and exhausted and confused. They’re acting out because their whole world is upside down right now. I think about the uncertainty of the future, the fears of living by faith in a foreign land. I’m a worrier by nature, and the what ifs abound!

Can you relate? Do you ever doubt your course and think, “What in the world?! Why am I here?”

Why I Do It

In these moments, it helps to bring yourself back to the why of what you do.

I was recently reminded of the why for our lives. Why are we on the mission field?

I was standing in a church that had invited us to share about Ukraine. We were in a time of sweet worship. Music has a way of evoking powerful emotions, and I was caught up in that moment of praise.

These were people we’d never met in person before that weekend. A sense of awe washed over me as I realized that although we were near strangers, we were all there to praise the same God. There was an emotional connection with these brothers and sisters, even though I didn’t know most of their names yet.

And then they played a song that we sing in Ukrainian. Homesickness filled my heart and tears began to form in my eyes. I thought of my dear Ukrainian church and quietly sang in the language that has become closer to me for worship. I felt the same inner burning that I’ve experienced for years – a passionate desire to share the love of Jesus with the Ukrainian people.

The pastor stood up and began talking about the nations. Talking about God’s radical plan to save humanity from our sin and depravity. The awesome heart of our God, who sends His children out into the whole world because He is passionate for rescuing lost and dying souls.

And the pastor quoted these verses:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

– Revelation 7:9-12

In that moment, I was instantly brought back to the why. Why have we chosen a life that seems to go against instinct and that finds us in the throws of doubt and fear?

Because someday, we will stand with a countless multitude, praising the same God. I imagine that throne room and see men, women and children from every nation, every culture. Beautiful physical features that make each nation so unique. There is singing and shouting in more languages than I have ever heard on this earth. We have different traditions, different histories, different political and even religious or faith views.

But none of that matters anymore. We are all overcome, obliterated by the urge to worship this God who outshines anything else. “Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might” are all HIS! 

And that’s the why. Because some day, all the doubts and fears will be over. I will stand in the throne room with brothers and sisters from every corner of the earth. There will be those I’ve never met and those who have been dear friends on earth. And we will think of nothing but this awesome, all consuming God whom we worship.

Remembering this why gives me the courage to keep going on the hard days.

So, now it’s your turn.

What is the thing you are doing in life, and why. What is the motivator behind that course? Share it with us, but more importantly, remind yourself!