It was a Sunday morning, and I was on call for the weekend. I stopped by the hospital to see whether any surgical pathology cases had come in overnight that required immediate attention. Although I hadn’t received any calls the previous evening, I knew at least a couple of specimens had arrived on Saturday. I didn’t expect either would require an urgent consultation.
As I walked into the hospital, I recognized a surgeon I knew heading toward the exit. Still wearing his scrubs, I assumed he had either finished an operation or had been making rounds.
“Good morning, Jake.”
Without missing a beat, he frowned and replied, “What’s good about it?”
The answer caught me completely off guard.
“Sorry,” I said. “I was just saying good morning. Did you just finish a case?”
“No.”
“Everything okay?”
He looked at me as though I had asked the most obvious question in the world.
“If I’m not cutting,” he said, “I’m not happy.”
I stood there for a moment, unsure how to respond.
Every medical specialty has its stereotypes. Surgeons are often portrayed as workaholics who live for the operating room. While I’ve known many surgeons who completely defy that stereotype, his answer stayed with me long after we parted ways.
It wasn’t because he loved surgery. There’s nothing wrong with loving your work. In fact, God often gives us gifts and callings that bring deep satisfaction. What struck me was that his happiness seemed to depend entirely on whether he was operating that day.
Looking back, I wonder how many of us quietly live the same way.
“If I’m not working…”
“If I’m not succeeding…”
“If I’m not needed…”
“If I’m not accomplishing something…”
…I’m not happy.
We may not be surgeons, but it’s easy to let our identity become attached to our performance. Careers end. Businesses close. Health changes. Retirement comes. Children grow up. The things that once defined us eventually pass away. If our joy depends on what we do, then our joy is always vulnerable.
The Bible points us toward a better foundation.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
Notice where David locates joy—not in circumstances, achievement, or productivity, but in the presence of God. Work is a gift from God, but it was never meant to become our god.
The surgeon probably didn’t intend to make a profound statement that morning, yet his words have remained with me for years because they exposed a temptation that all of us face. We naturally look for happiness in what we accomplish instead of in the One who gave us the ability to accomplish it.
The question isn’t whether we enjoy our work. The question is this: If everything that gives your life a sense of purpose were taken away tomorrow… would Christ still be enough?
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
#faith #trustinggod #christianity #jesuschrist #bible #seekinggodswill #truth #sanctification #godisincontrol #godhearsourprayers #salvation #providenceofGod #surgeons, #oncall #whatsgoodaboutit #Psalm16:11
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