Psalm 46:10 has been a sacred echo in my life for the past several months. Late last night, as i sat in the stillness after everyone else in my house had gone off to bed, it came to mind again. i was considering today’s occasion (the Labor Day holiday) and what i might write. My sacred echo seemed to be the perfect and most powerful truth i could share on a day such as this.
Cease striving, the verse begins (in the words of the NASB translation). How desperately and deeply do we need to hear these words as we swim against the tide of the culture and times in which we live?
“Yes. Let’s write about that,” I thought.
But i know i’ve written about that verse several times over the years. Maybe i should look back and make sure it wasn’t last week or last month. i smiled as one of the results from my search was dated 9/5/2016. i relished the opportunity to revisit that post and hear where my heart was exactly one year ago.
It is not far off where my heart is tonight as I begin to write.
One paragraph in the middle of last year’s post seemed to speak the words of my heart so truly and completely. Listen, as a voice echoes from the past, salted with a little bit of where my heart is tonight…
As we walk daily with Him and do the kingdom work He authored for us long before we were born (Ephesians 2:10), we would do well to live out the first two words of Psalm 46:10. We would be wise to stop trying to meet each day, and its troubles, in our own strength. Hear clearly the permission God speaks through the words of the Psalmist. This is what i hear Him saying … “Cease striving, my son (or daughter). My strength is made perfect in your choice to stop trying to make it through today with your own blood, sweat and tears. Let’s, instead, walk together. I’ll pull the plow and you can know Me more through the direct experience and observation of it. I don’t want you walking a step behind. No, take the other side of this very real yoke and walk with me. See, hear, smell, taste and touch how it is all Me as you and I Am appear to be sharing the load. Experience the true joy of receiving praise from others for ‘accomplishing’ something in My power. Observe the oneness that is possible, especially in the experience of deep pain and loss.”
Make no mistake, there is one whose blood, sweat and tears saved us, freed us and gives us great power in this life. Also know, that one … is not us. “Take the day off,” our rulers and employers say. “Walk with me, let me,” our Savior beckons.
Allow me to close as I did last year.
On this day which brings an unofficial end to the season of summer, may you also be encouraged to end a season of trying (in your own strength). And in doing so, may you know Him more. May you know His grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, steadfastness, power and love more completely.
Work hard in the fields of the kingdom. But today, and every day, cease striving and know that He is God.
journey onWord with us 
Enjoyed waking to some “Labor Day” thoughts this morning. Thanks! 😊
Some time to, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Your provided morning thoughts sent my mind to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
“…….my (God’s) power is made perfect in weakness……..so that Christ’s power may rest on me……..that is why I delight in weakness……..for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
God’s authored and revealed relationship of weakness to strength and rest to labor remind of Jesus’ repeated caution and redirection of, “you have heard it said, but I say unto you”, in Matthew. They (true weakness, strength, rest, labor) are not naturally and readily known or spoken of. So, I am thankful to “hear” them in your thoughts today! 😊
Father, Son, Spirit, might we know and enjoy Your great and good “power” as it (You) “rests” on us this Labor Day. Might we “delight” in weakness, knowing more of the, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”!
“To this end I (we) labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works within me (us).” Colossians 1:29
By: Jerry awillaman on September 4, 2017
at 9:50 am