“I can write off the plane ticket as a business expense,” I argued. “If I bow out, they might never ask me again. This is a great conference to add to my résumé.” But our credit card statement declared the sad reality: we were in too much debt to justify the trip. With a lump of disappointment in my throat, I e-mailed the conference coordinator and explained the situation.

“You didn’t have to do that,” my husband said after I received a reply, solidifying that I wouldn’t be teaching at the conference.

“I can always apply next year. Paying our bills is more important right now.” And I truly meant it.

Careers can offer exciting opportunities, whether we work outside the home or from the house. Yet our dreams tug at one sleeve while the needs of our husband and kids tug on the other. Our will dukes it out against God’s. We make plans only to have them complicated by an illness or emergency. On these occasions it helps to remember that God is in control.

Often there is no easy answer, other than what Scripture says about obeying God’s will and putting others before ourselves. As hard as this can be sometimes, we know that God blesses our willingness to sacrifice. Our obedience will bring a sense of peace and often a fatherly affirmation, You did the right thing.