I Get to Go to Work Tomorrow

Last night we had a little birthday dinner. Rachel, her parents, my mom, and our oldest were all around the table. It was simple, nothing fancy, but it was one of those evenings where you realize how much family is a blessing. Somewhere in the middle of conversation, Rachel said something like, “You have to go to work tomorrow.” Without thinking I responded, “No, I get to go to work tomorrow.”

It wasn’t meant to be profound, but it stopped me for a moment. I really do believe that. I don’t dread going to work. I don’t wake up with a sense of heaviness about it. I see it as a privilege.

Don’t roll your eyes, I know the phrase “I get to, not I have to” isn’t brand new. You’ve probably heard it many times before, maybe even brushed it off as just another motivational saying. But for me, sitting there on my birthday surrounded by family, it wasn’t just a catchy line. It was the honest truth of how I feel. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much perspective really does shape the way we live.

Have to… or get to?

It’s amazing how quickly our words reveal our perspective. “I have to mow the grass.” “I have to take the kids to practice.” “I have to go to church.” Those are the kinds of phrases that slip out without much thought. But what if we started saying, “I get to”?

I get to mow the grass because I have a home God has provided.
I get to take the kids to practice because they are healthy and strong.
I get to go to church because we live in a place where worship is still free and open.

It’s not just semantics. It’s gratitude.

Seeing the Everyday Differently

When we look at life through the right lens, even the ordinary can take on new meaning. Paul wrote these words in Colossians 3:23–24 (NKJV): “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Those words remind us that God does not separate the sacred from the ordinary. He is present in it all. Work, chores, parenting, caring for family… none of it is wasted when it is done for Him. What feels routine becomes an act of worship when we shift our perspective.

That is when the “have to” becomes a “get to.” It is not about ignoring the difficulty, it is about recognizing the purpose. Every task, no matter how small, can be an opportunity to serve Christ.

When dread lingers

But let me pause here and add this. If you wake up every day dreading what is ahead, that is not something to ignore. Yes, a lot of it comes down to perspective, but sometimes it is also God’s way of saying it is time for a change. Work was never meant to be nothing but drudgery.

I understand there are seasons where we push through hard places, but over the long haul, I believe God wants us to find both provision and fulfillment in what we do. If you are willing to search, pray, and step out in faith, I believe it is possible to find work that not only pays the bills but also stirs joy and purpose in your heart.

If dread is constant, please don’t just settle for it. Bring it before God. Ask Him, “Lord, is this where You want me? Or are You leading me somewhere new?” On Sunday I talked about doors God closes, but understand this, He can also open doors no one can shut.

Shaping the heart

Whether we are in a fulfilling season of work or just trying to endure a difficult one, perspective matters. Asking God to shift us from “have to” to “get to” is really asking Him to shape our hearts. When we choose gratitude, even the hard parts of life can begin to look different.

Living with gratitude

Here’s the thing. Gratitude rarely shows up on its own. We’ve got to learn to make it a practice, something we lean into. And here’s the reality, the more we practice, the more it becomes natural. After some time you will find that what once felt like a burden begins to feel like a gift.

So tomorrow morning when the alarm goes off, maybe try whispering a simple prayer: “Lord, thank You that I get to live this day. Thank You for the work, the people, the opportunities You have set before me.”

It may not change the circumstances, but it will change how you carry them.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of this life. Forgive me for the times I see only burdens and forget Your blessings. If there are areas of life that are draining me, give me wisdom and courage to seek Your will. Help me shift from “I have to” to “I get to,” and give me eyes to see Your goodness in the ordinary and the difficult. May everything I do be done as unto You. Amen.