"Jesus in a Cowboy Hat"

Once while I was sleeping,

I had a cowboy dream,

Stayed with me after I work up,

It’s just how real it seemed.

I was trottin’ out a-horseback,

With a seasoned cowboy crew,

Gone to gather cattle,

And do what cowboys do.

Brought cows along with babies,

From a big old pasture there,

To a set of pens for working,

Soon the smell of singeing hair.

And as we heeled and dragged ‘em,

Close to the brandin’ fire,

I saw the Lord a-joinin’ in,

Just like a hand for hire.

He had on hat and leggings,

He worked with skill and grace,

And no top hand could match him,

‘Cause he set a steady pace.

The day got hot and dusty,

But the Good Lord never shirked,

And I realized I was seein’,

How hard it was He worked.

And when the sun was settin’,

And we lifted rein to go,

He spoke to each and every one,

As if to let ‘em know,

That He loved our time together,

Both the young ones and the old,

Encouragement was what He gave,

Both quietly and bold.

And when I think about it,

In my mind I still can view,

Jesus in a cowboy hat,

A workin’ with that crew.

So what’s the message God was speaking,

When He let me dream that way,

And how would you apply it,

To how you live each day.

I guess I’d say in everything,

The Lord is there with us,

To work and give encouragement,

And not to judge and fuss.

I’d say that work’s a good thing,

And one of His great gifts,

And when we work together,

It’s how the Spirit lifts,

Us up to learn to get things done,

And everybody wins,

These are things I pray about,

As this old world groans and spins.

Day workin’ with Jesus,

Is a dream that I will keep,

Especially when discouraged,

And the road gets rough and steep.

I’ll rise and ride tomorrow,

Just like I did today,

And work like when I watched Him,

That’s what I hope and pray.

“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This, too, is from the hand of God.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24, NIV)

Work has become an idolatrous burden for so many people. But that is not the way it is supposed to be! When Jesus is the Lord of our lives we surrender every endeavor to Him. Our work is meant to be an expression of our worship to the Lord, even if we find ourselves in challenging situations. If you absolutely despise your work, pray that the Lord will either change the way you feel about it or open a new door. Don’t be afraid to make sacrifices that will bring about needed change. If you have indebted yourself financially and feel stuck because of it, there is help and a way forward to greater peace and freedom. Begin by asking the Lord to guide you to find the help you need. Life is too short to grind it away on labor that gives you no satisfaction. Jesus came to give us abundant life, and this is part of it!

Lord, lead us into satisfaction with our work, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Shawn Cameron, used by permission. Thanks, Shawn, and God bless you.