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“Serve the Lord with gladness” is a common translation of Psalm 100:2. Another common rendition is “Worship the Lord with gladness.” Whichever version of the Bible you read, Scripture as a whole confirms that working joyfully in God’s service is a form of worship.

That said, the “joyfully” part doesn’t always come easily–especially when it seems you have an endless pile of work and never experience the satisfaction of real completion. Or, conversely, when you’re unemployed or sick and feeling largely ignored by the world, and God doesn’t seem to be doing much more about that than you feel capable of doing for Him.

What are the secrets of serving the Lord joyfully at all times?

Remember “Serving” Doesn’t Always Mean “Work”

Sometimes, it means trusting God enough to wait patiently for Him to work in us and our lives. We tend to judge the value of our lives by how much we accomplish on the visible level–a concept reinforced by this world’s emphasis on hustle and achievement. But since God is our Father as well as our Master, He also delights in seeing us rest in His presence, listen to Him humbly, and thank Him for the good things He sends into every life. And if it takes real work to see any good in your current circumstances–don’t hate yourself for your attitude or for not being able to force quick change in yourself. Just pray that God will change you at His own speed.

When You Do Work, Practice Right Motives

Every time I hear somebody say, “I live for the weekends,” I want to say, “Then why should God keep you alive?”     –Rick Warren

Seriously, whether you’re an international CEO, a CNN journalist, or a stay-at-home mom, you’re going to spend somewhere around half your life “working” in the sense of creating something or putting something in order. If you can never find any better reason for that work than “I need the money” or “It’s expected of me” or “Somebody has to do it,” small wonder if you feel you’re wasting your life. Either you’re in the wrong field altogether, or you have no higher purpose in life than to squeeze out all the pleasure you can, or both.

Can you picture a career in which you can honestly say, “This is what God wants me to do, and I’m happy to do it for Him”? If not, pray that God will show you a vocation (even if it’s your current one) where you can say that. If you think you do know what God wants you to do, but it looks impossible to get there, pray He will open doors for you–and when He does, walk through without arguing.

Practice Everyday Gladness

If you’re serving God and your fellow human beings with a scowl, it may well be because that’s your attitude toward all of life, not just waiting or working. It’s all too easy to get in the habit of finding something wrong with everything, from the airport traffic to the smartphone to your kids and cat. If you look for things to grumble about, you’ll always find them. So make a conscious effort at finding things to be glad about instead, and thank God for these whenever you find them. Ask Him to give you an eye for blessings and a heart that wouldn’t think of demanding perfection before it’s willing to be grateful. Eventually, you’ll develop a “serving the Lord with gladness” habit to replace the grumbling habit.

And remember, God is the ultimate Source of all gladness. Just letting Him share it with you is an act of service and worship!