how can i please God?

I was walking the green pastures of our Minnesota farm fetching the cattle for milking—I was 16 years old.

I looked up to the beautiful blue sky and wondered if God knew who I was? Maybe I should become a nurse, or work in a poor country doing missionary work—then, for sure, He would notice me!

Missionary work on foreign ground—working in an orphanage—this became my quest. Once I could reach that goal THEN I would please God… THEN He would notice me.

Years later, I did reach foreign soil, doing volunteer work at an orphanage. I was 21 years old.

Disappointment soon followed. Even though I was on foreign soil, I still carried the old nagging questions about my purpose, and how I could please God!

In my struggle, God helped me see that trying to please Him through my own efforts and what “I thought” I should be doing, was not what He wanted or planned for me. It was not living on foreign soil, it was not working in an orphanage—it was the joy of simply being in His appointed place! His place for me was within my home, to serve my family, and to extend hospitality to others. What joy! What relief! What peace this brought me!

Today, nearly fifty years later, I suppose I could write a book on the accounts of the various people from around the world that God has brought into our home— miraculous and life-changing opportunities I would have missed if I had pushed ahead with “my” ideas of what I thought it meant to please the Lord.

—Char Lessin

May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:21 NLT