Twice, the book of Isaiah states about God, “Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him” (40:10; 62:11). As I was reading this verse recently, it struck me in a way it hadn’t before, and I realized that I’d been making a mistake in reading the quote. I’d been unconsciously transposing the words reward and work, reading it as saying, “Behold, his work is with him, and his reward before him.” 

It had always seemed to me that our work, be it a profession or duties around the house, at church, etc., was the thing that we carried with us. I had thought of our reward as something we were striving for—that it was somewhere in the distance, seeming at times like a mirage. It’s so freeing to finally read this passage correctly. My whole outlook on work and reward changed as this understanding guided my prayer, and I began to view reward as cause and not effect. Instead of thinking that I needed to accomplish x, y, and z to earn a reward (promotion, raise, praise, self-esteem, etc.), I could strive to see work as a natural outcome of the God-given reward that we each carry with us at all times. 

I could strive to see work as a natural outcome of the God-given reward that we each carry with us.