Steady + Immovable | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” —1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭

Recently, I got to drive through the Cascade mountain range in the Pacific Northwest. Absolutely beautiful! As much as I’d love to see that view outside my living room window, it’s not really possible to fold up Mount St. Helens and fit her in the overhead compartment of the plane back to South Florida. Mountains are pretty but unfortunately, they’re not portable.

Mountain ranges have features, like elevation, vegetation, and climates that vary, but the footprint of every single peak on the planet is fixed. Anchored to the earth and immovable, mountains are places where life flourishes. In fact, even though mountains cover less than a third of the earth’s surface, 85% of amphibian, bird and mammal species live and thrive in mountain regions (Gyamtsho, 2020).

God has called each of us to good works (Ephesians 2:10), and the resolve we have in doing them should be just like the Cascades— beautiful, full of life and unmoving.

In real life, though, our resolve wavers. We get distracted and discouraged. We become weary and weighed-down. Soon we’ve lost sight of why we’re even doing what we do. We believe the lies that tell us it’s all for nothing, that there’s no point, that there must be something better for us to give our time and energy to.

We think that God must not have called us to this [fill in the blank]; otherwise we would feel more capable, qualified and productive.

Isn’t this how we feel in school? In volunteer work? In our careers? You name it— marriage, parenting, civic involvement, church ministry. Often we feel less like an immovable mountain and more like a napkin at the beach.

What has God called you to do right now? How are you reflecting his patience, forgiveness, kindness, beauty, justice and strength? Who is the person that might be understanding more about God’s character because of you?

Keep at it, Sister. Stay steadfast in the work. Keep loving, keep giving, keep forgiving. This is what Paul is telling us in 1 Corinthians 15:58. The NIV says it like this, “Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

It’s not in vain! Paul bases his argument for this on the resurrection of Jesus. It’s what the entire (long) chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is all about. We know that our work will produce something fruitful and good. We know that our work will be worth it. We know this because the work of Jesus— long, scary, and painful as it was— was worth it.

Jesus didn’t let apprehension move him away from His Father’s mission. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

He didn’t let futile thoughts sway him from obedience. Thoughts like, what if the plan doesn’t work… what if I fail… what if I can’t handle it… what if the outcome isn’t what I thought.

He didn’t let the fear of pain change His mind but instead stood firm in the work God sent Him to do, enduring the cross by looking past it to the joy that awaited Him (Hebrews 12:2).

Sister, look to Jesus today. Remember what the resurrection secured for you. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living within you right now (Romans 8:11), giving you the same resolve to do the work God has called you to do. Stay steady and immovable, giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord and trusting Him for the results.

REFERENCE:
Gyamtsho, Pema. “Mountains Matter for Biodiversity.” icimod.org, https://www.icimod.org/mountains-matter-for-biodiversity/ 2020.

For Your Journal

Find It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” —1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬

Fix It:

In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:

Be Steadfast

My work is not in vain.

Let nothing move you.

Feel It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.

Lord, I get caught up in my head sometimes, thinking that what I’m doing with my life isn’t…enough. I get discouraged and question everything. I believe lies that say my efforts to be gracious, patient, wise, forgiving, etc. won’t produce anything worthwhile in the end. Speak truth to my heart, Holy Spirit, until I feel your word transforming me from the inside out. Remind me that your resurrection power is at work in me as I do the work you’ve called me to do. Remind me that the outcomes of my obedience are ultimately up to you, and help me to believe that you will produce good and beautiful things as I stay steady and immovable, anchored to you. Amen.