The phrase, “Where’s Waldo?” is, I’m sure, one that’s very familiar to most. Waldo is the token character seen in children’s illustrated books and was definitely one of my favorites growing up. These past few months, I have taken on the phrase “Where’s Waldo?” and renamed it, “Where’s Saba?!”
I have been MIA to say the least! I work full time at Golfland Sunsplash Water Park in the mornings and then go to school full time in the evenings, studying for cardiac sonography. On my good days, I may squeeze in an early morning or late night gym session. All of this leaves my days long and exhausting. The water park season was extremely busy this year, and the weekends were packed. I generally never work weekends, but this year brought about a new work schedule. My Sundays were robbed from me, and at times, I would feel guilty for not being able to worship on Sunday with God’s people. I found myself reasoning, “God gave me this job to honor Him, yet I can’t even make it on Sunday to worship Him.” I had a dilemma: I could either walk away from a job that was keeping me afloat, with all my expenses as a broke college student, or I could continue to work Sundays. Though it may seem minuscule, it is a real issue that I have struggled with, and I’m sure many of you have as well.
God has been so gracious to me in providing me with work to use money for good things; things like my education, supporting the local church, and the occasional Cane’s chicken box combo (one of my favorites). I have grown to see that God is in total control, and there are some Sundays when I have seen how His sovereignty pans out. I have had incredible witnessing opportunities with co workers and even customers on Sundays, and I see how God wanted me at work just so I could share the good news with those who don’t know Him. This is by no means a reason to neglect the corporate time of worship with God’s people, but I see how God has called me to reach beyond the confines of the church to those in the back woods and share the Gospel with them. Isaiah 40:28 reads, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired for His understanding is inscrutable.” I make it personal and insert my name: “Saba, do you not know? I am God and you are not; therefore trust and rest in my Son.” God’s wisdom surpasses any human understanding, and if working a few extra hours means God’s glory is displayed to others, then I will continue to bless Him by doing all things in His name.
So after working multiple weeks without time off, paying back Sally Mae, giving to the local church, laboring on Labor Day, and everything in between, I greatly look forward to the ultimate rest that Jesus Christ the Messiah will bring when the worries and cares of this world will no longer consume me. Working and using the money to provide for the temporary will be a distant shadow as I stand face to face before Him worshipping fully! So dear Christian, continue to ask God for wisdom as we seek to balance the books with our legitimate life issues, but remember the books were balanced when Jesus wiped the sin debt and gave us true rest!
