"Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men..."
~ Colossians 3:23
Certain translations of Psalm 46 say "cease striving".
I feel like we (the devoted) sometimes take that pair of words in a way God may not have intended.
A perfectly reasonable mistake, by the way, as Oxford defines the word strive in the English language as a verb meaning to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something, or to struggle or fight vigorously.
Other translations use language just as oft cited...
"Be still."
That, I love.
Did you know that the verse comes in the face of the absolute chaos of being under attack in battle?
Did you also know that the Hebrew words used command us to let go and relax?
Being still. Relaxing. Letting go.
I think the critical thing to remember is that those are all things that can and should happen in the face of our own personal battles. When we're in the fray, that is when the stillness, relaxing, and trusting in Him is the most vital. If we are able to do that, that's when He truly has a chance, sometimes with our help and sometimes without, to "be exalted among the nations... exalted over the earth."
Because of our word strive in English, I think this is sometimes taken as a Martha admonishment. I would disagree. We were made for work. We are called to be watchmen and warriors. We were each crafted for a purpose, and it's not likely to be sitting on our thumbs. Whatever God has for you to do, odds are it's going to take effort and diligence and discipline.
But, in the face of the battle, you can reach out to Him, and in the stillness you will find that He has the strength for whatever He has set you to do. He has equipped you and you are well able, with Him in your corner. In point of fact, it's a bit of a superpower.
May you be blessed with His peace, with stillness in Him as you take ground.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for training us up to walk in Your peace, always, but most especially in the face of battle, to reside in stillness and communion with you, to relax, to trust, to breathe.
Thank You for helping us to remember that with You, all things are possible, that You have equipped us for each and every single thing You have set us to do.
Thank You for helping us to live the truth of Your Word with iron will to walk in Your Way, all the days of our lives.
We love You. We choose to walk in Your peace. We trust You.
Amen.
"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth." ~ Psalm 46:10
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58
"Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." ~ Galatians 6:9
May the Good Lord bless you and keep you, friends... always, in all ways. Amen.
Bonus song of praise... ♥
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