Lately, in my encouragement to others, God has put it on my heart to notice the level of effort they are putting in. From the squad of cheerleaders I help coach to parents navigating the aging of their parents, to moms trying to achieve it all, God notices their effort in walking His path for them. I don’t usually write in the first person, under the cover of humility. However, I felt more humbled in my heart and heard the whisper, “Are you humble enough to share your testimonies?” I decided it was time to ask God, “How is my effort, Father?”

Why Effort Matters

Whether it’s working or volunteering at our jobs, churches, schools, clubs, or sports, our ministry is to use the Fruits of the Spirit to show the people we encounter the love of Jesus. That is the mission He left us with until He returns. We must trust God to guide our steps, write our playbook, and protect us on the journey. Our purpose on this planet is to be in fellowship with God through our Savior, Jesus. Being adopted into His family means we are tasked with the family business of making disciples and spreading the Gospel. For a revival to be more than a season, to be a wildfire that cannot be slowed or stopped, we must be giving a valid effort, each and every one of us. As a family, our impact will be so much greater. God already holds the victory. When it comes down to what really matters, we have nothing to lose. The enemy can do its worst, and we still win. Spiritual warfare is not a myth or a fable to scare children into obedience.

We can look at it like a football game. Everyone is on a team, but you can choose the team you join: God’s or not God’s team. Spiritual warfare isn’t an optional thing like football, however. We are in the field. The enemy often feels like the alien monsters in the original Space Jam, and we are the Tiny Toons fighting against trickery. That is why it is so crucial to train in the Word, pray, and fellowship with our Lord. Our enemy is out there, and we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. Maybe you don’t feel like the quarterback in your life, but there’s a position for everyone on the Lord’s team. The position you are in life is almost completely irrelevant, which could be unfortunate to hear. But it should give us hope. Our Father has blessed us and gifted us; He has placed us in this time and this place, all for His glory! It is the effort we put in that results in the harvest. God bears the fruits through His Holy Spirit, but we are His workers! We must be willing to put in the effort to be good servants while on this mission field we call Earth.

Funny enough, that might look like saying “no” to some things. Each of our walks will look different, so do not compare paths to make any of us feel bad. Rather, encourage one another and pray for God to reveal more and more of His plan to us. I am continually amazed at the encounters I have with people in all areas of my life, and I can see God working. At the end of the day, we may feel completely drained and like we rode the emotional rollercoaster more than we wanted. That is why God is the One who pours out His strength, His mercy, His power, His patience, His kindness, and His goodness to overflow on us so we can get up tomorrow and do it again.

Measuring Our Effort

Let’s face it, life is busy. Most of us are buzzing around like busy bees and probably feel very worn out every night. There is a difference between being busy and being productive, however. Truthfully, we could also discuss how important the amount we produce is in the end anyway. As the late Charlie Kirk would say, “I am far more interested in what God wants of me than what I want of God.” In trying to meet the goals that I try to listen for direction on, am I merely waiting for God to puppet me in any given situation to use me for His Kingdom? Rather, as I pray over Isaiah 6, even if my voice shakes and emotion sweeps over me, I say, “Send me, Lord,” and I prepare to act. In Christ, all things are yes; however, that doesn’t mean we have to say yes to everything. It means if He is for us, who can be against us? It is by His power, for His glory, that we can do anything worthwhile. Our Father will direct us, so our no can be no, and our yes can be yes.

We will be known as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ by our ability to love. When we love the people in our lives and our communities, we should be able to see the fruit. The peace of God that is beyond our understanding is a good indication of how much effort is being put in. Peace in saying “no” or in saying “yes,” again, even if we don’t really want to. If our hearts are in the right place, we will want to honor God in our obedience to His will. Sometimes it’s for a season, and sometimes it’s for many. Our area of influence may change often or almost never. We have the power of God working through us to change the world, starting with right where we are. We can trust God for the rest, and yes, ask for forgiveness if we feel convicted for a decision that should have been the opposite. Praise God for grace. We have a lot of priorities, but effort for the Kingdom of God should be incorporated into all of them.

Samantha Moser is a disciple of Jesus who has served in various ministries, often simultaneously, over the last 12 years, most consistently in KidMin. She and her husband, Dallas, homeschool their four children with an emphasis on biblical foundations, world history, and life skills. The couple volunteers as Sunday School teachers for nursery through kindergarten, and Samantha has been a leader in various areas and ages within KidMin for the last six years. This year, she served as VBS director for the first time and can now say she has done every role within VBS. Samantha believes having two sons and two daughters gives her a thorough perspective on what boys and girls are facing today. The Moser family is passionate about serving Jesus and filling needs in all areas of their lives. When they aren’t at church, they enjoy camping and managing their cat, two dogs, and nine chickens.