And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground. – Luke 22:44, Amplified Bible

Children learn a lot of things by watching their parents, and one of the biggest lessons I learned watching my mother was this: get the job done, even if you don’t feel like it. While growing up I saw my mother come down with her fair share of colds and other ailments. But I remember that she very rarely took a sick day from work. As a matter of fact, she had to be nearly at death’s door before she would! In her latter years, I saw her suffer with much more serious physical ailments. Yet, until she became truly disabled, she fought hard to go to work each and every day.

The Bible records many examples of Christ’s faithful pursuit of His duty, but few stand out in my mind more vividly than Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, in such anguish that He perspired great drops of blood, the God of the Universe could have easily said, “I’ve had all the fun I can stand. It’s time to go back home.” But He didn’t! He stuck by His duty, He stayed with the job, and He suffered unimaginably horrible things so that you and I could have eternal life.

We have all had days – sometimes weeks, months, or even years – when we just don’t feel like sticking with the work that The Lord has given us to do. But unless God has made it clear that He wants us to quit the job in favor of another work, our duty is to stay the course, stick by the stuff, and keep on keeping on. Just like Jesus prayed in the garden, “…Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt (Mark 14:36, KJV),” we ought to pray the same, committing to whichever path He tasks us with – whether we feel like it or not.

Serving God is often hard, but hard or not, we ought to be thankful for the privilege of being in the King’s employ. Also, it doesn’t hurt to remember this wonderful promise of Jesus in Mark 10:29-30 (KJV):

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Now, my friend, go do what the day requires, whether you feel like it or not!