If someone were to ask you who your boss is, what would you say? Would you say it's your conference leader or committee? Perhaps not. You might say that ultimately, your "boss" is Jesus Christ.

Let's take it from another angle. As a church worker, you're like an officer in an army. You take your orders, ultimately, from your general. Who's that? Same answer--Jesus Christ.

So what if you don't like your orders? What if you think things could be done differently? Take the advice of a soldier himself:

"The duke of Wellington was once present where a party of Christian men were discussing the possibility of success in missionary effort among the heathen. They appealed to the duke to say whether in his judgment such efforts were likely to prove a success commensurate to the cost. The old soldier replied: 'Gentlemen, what are your marching orders? Success is not the question for you to discuss. If I read your orders aright, they run thus, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Gentlemen, obey your marching orders.' " --E. G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 115.

Sometimes in the work things happen that we don't agree with. Perhaps we think that we should be consulted before such and so was done. At times we might even stress out over it. What for?

The progress of the cause of God on this earth does not require our review and our consent. For Him to be about His business, it is not necessary for Him to stop and obtain our "yeah and amen." If we believe this is the case, we are sadly mistaken.

Don't take me to mean, however, that we aren't to be involved. You and I have a duty to do all in our power to influence things in the right way. But beyond what we can do, it isn't up to us to make things come out right. We must not let circumstances get us down and ruin our own experience. In the words of a fellow soldier:

Christianity is a religion of progress. Light from God is full and ample, waiting our demand upon it. Whatever blessings the Lord may give, He has an infinite supply beyond, an inexhaustible store from which we may draw. Skepticism may treat the sacred claims of the gospel with jests, scoffing, and denial. The spirit of worldliness may contaminate the many and control the few; the cause of God may hold its ground only by great exertion and continual sacrifice, yet it will triumph finally.

The word is: Go forward; discharge your individual duty, and leave all consequences in the hands of God. If we move forward where Jesus leads the way we shall see His triumph, we shall share His joy. We must share the conflicts if we wear the crown of victory. Like Jesus, we must be made perfect through suffering. Had Christ's life been one of ease, then might we safely yield to sloth. Since His life was marked with continual self-denial, suffering, and self-sacrifice, we shall make no complaint if we are partakers with Him. We can walk safely in the darkest path if we have the Light of the world for our guide. ¹

Then if you are discouraged by setbacks and defeats, stop and consider whose battle you are fighting. Is it your battle, or the Lord's? If God is your general, neither victory nor defeat belong to you. Your job is to use the weapons of prayer and faith.

Do not waste your time in mulling over defeat, but focus on the ultimate victory ahead. Present yourself to your commander for your marching orders. Let your attitude be as Isaiah, who, although the circumstances were discouraging, said, "Here am I, send me."

Then the One who holds all power "in heaven and in earth" will turn the battle.