Cease Striving
“Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. “ (Psalm 46:10 NASB)
We all strive for things in life. We strive to fit in, to be loved, to be liked. We strive for things, for possessions, which we think will bring us happiness. As believers, we even strive to be accepted by our Heavenly Father. We strive to be the kind of persons we think will please Him.
We all long to be accepted, to be loved and well spoken of. That is an innate desire in every one of us. That is something that God has put in us. It’s a God given desire and is in truth a good thing.
The problem is that, most often, we strive for the wrong things and the wrong persons. People and things will never satisfy. They will never really bring us what we truly need and long for. This kind of striving only leaves us empty. Ironically, even striving for God’s approval and love will leave us wanting and frustrated. We were not made for striving. We were made for rest.
Most of us have heard Psalm 46:10 translated as “Be still and know that I am God.” But recently I read it translated in the NASB version, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” This was such a revelation for me.
So often we strive to see the promises of God fulfilled in our lives, thinking that if we would just pray more or do more or be more, that God would give us what we desire and need, when the truth is that God is already expectantly waiting to freely give us those things.
If truth be told, we don’t receive from God because we’re good enough, but because He is good!!
Our problem is not that of not trying hard enough or reaching far enough, but instead, it is that of not believing, not waiting and not trusting that we don’t have to do anything but believe. It’s our faith that moves the mountains. It’s our faith that moves His hands.
“Who through faith and patience inherit the promises of God.” (Hebrews 6:12)
We receive His promises through faith, but patience is also extremely important - waiting, resting and believing for our Due Time, our Suddenly, His perfect timing. It will come, in His way and in His time, but we must stop striving for it. We must believe. We must “Be still and know that He is God.”
He is the great I AM. Everything we need is found in Him. He is the Good Father, who delights in giving us good things. He is our protector, our provider, our healer, our everything. Absolutely everything we need is found in Him – the Fountain of Life.
So may we wait on Him.
May we cease our strivings
May we know, that we know, that we know,
That He is God!
