Is hard work really worth it?
- Brittany K Moore
- Feb 23
- 5 min read
The idea of hard work is many times earned from hardship. The hardship of childhood trauma and proving society or people wrong. The hardship of difficulty. The hardship of a lack of growth in adults who refuse to make changes. The idea of hard work is often earned from a bar set too high and a drive to people please.
But, in the end is hard work ever really worth it? In a day and age where complacency (idleness) continues to grow like a plague with mental health taking on the forefront, is hard work worth the battle?
Even worse, how do you teach hard work in a healthy way with your children when life for them seems so blessed and easy? Relatively speaking, I look at our four blessings and my heart clinches in a weird jealousy. When I look at my husband and the love he has for his babies, I wish I had that when I was a child. But another part of me thinks how blessed we are.... to have each other and have God at the center.
My flesh weeps and rages on. Whereas my soul jumps for joy and celebration of Gods provision.
In this, we parents have a responsibility to instill "work ethic" in our children that challenges, provides confidence, and also reminds when it's time to rest. We also need to have enough "faith" in our children to give them the "hard" tasks to build that same ethic and not allow them to give up when it seems too difficult. To not fall into the trap of laziness or irritation when the going gets tuff.
As someone who has battled depression and dealing with ADHD, I can understand the "slump" of neglecting hard work or falling into the trap of complacency. The ease of sitting and gazing at our phones or the tv or even a book. But as we sit, what do our children really see? If we neglect discipline and showing the importance of hard work, are we raising productive Godly individuals? Are we contributing as well to the Kingdom?
As I have recently been avid about reminding myself and am now going to remind you: "You choose your distractions."
Biblically we are warned against being idle several times in the Bible and what it can lead too. For example, Proverbs declares in NKJV; "Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15) Though the world says to "slow down" and "take time to yourself" we need to have enough diligence to know when there is a time to rest, and when there is a time to put in the work.
I was reminded of this yesterday as Nehemiah put in tremendous effort and shoveled our entire walkway to free it from the claws of ice and snow. He didn't complain in the hour it took him. He didn't wine or try to negotiate me to help him. He could have stopped and played instead, but he had a goal to accomplish (wanted his sister to be able to ride her bike) was earning $10 and also said he was "doing it for God" (showing he is a good steward.)
Nehemiah was able to remind me, that my actions and words matter. That my husband's words and actions whether they are complacent or proactive matter as well. A statement I frequently instill in our children that Nehemiah now repeats is; "It may be hard work, but I know it's worth it." The joy of a job well done and the pride of fulfilling a task is sometimes the only reward.
Sometimes the reward is doing a task for someone else and seeing the excitement on their face. (better to give than to recieve)
Sometimes the task we work hard for is to grow our character. Sometimes work is a monetary reward. No matter what though, hard work is always worth it!
What "hard work" is God calling YOU to this evening?
Before you even begin, remember to pause, give thanks, and pray over your ingredients and into the food you are making! To the Lord be the glory, even in the workmanship of our hands with our food!
Why do I use sourdough starter at all? Starter that you use for bread is made from water and flour. It goes through a fermentation process when made and feeding it- which activates the wild yeast in the flour to cause things to rise. We may not need this because of the baking powder, but starter also is HIGH in probiotics and enzymes our gut needs! Which is huge. Feel free to indulge while also helping your gut!
Don't have a starter? Feel free to reach out and I will get you one! :]
Ingredients:
The Cake:
2 eggs
1 tsp vinegar
1 cup of SILK vanilla soy yogurt
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of starter
1 tsp salt
2.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups flour
1.5 "sticks" of dairy free butter, or 12 tbsp
3/4 cup of milk (I use extra creamy oat milk)
Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp cinnamon
6 tbsp melted butter
Crumble:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp cinnamon
4 tbsp melted butter (I forgot the butter and didn't realize till it was already cooked which is why I have a powdery topping instead of crumbly. Still delicious though!)
Directions:
Grease a 9x12 pan and pre-heat your oven to 375 F. Get out your mixing bowl or as I like to use, a KitchenAid and add all your wet ingredients. (eggs, butter, starter, milk, yogurt, and vinegar, as well as your sugars)
Vinnegar is used with yogurt in place of sour cream that many coffee cake recipes call for. That paired with the starter gives the coffee cake its "tangy" taste.
Once your wet ingredients have been mixed, you can add in the remainder of the ingredients. Don't skip any!
In another bowl, mix together your filling.
Poor half your batter into your greased pan and then layer the filling on top. Poor the second half of the batter over it till the filling is completely covered.
In the same bowl you made the filling in (not about dirtying even more dishes) mix together your crumble. Add it on top. Pop Er in the oven for about twenty minutes, or till you can stick a toothpick in and not get the gooey goodness stuck to it when you pull it back out!
Enjoy for dessert, breakfast, or a midnight tea party and Bible Study! Don't forget to do a little dance of victory and praise!
Comments