Cease Striving

Cease Striving
You may be quite familiar with Psalm 46:10… “Be still and know that I am God.” (NIV)

This beautiful yet simple Bible verse has helped many of us through difficult and distracting times.  Recently, God used a friend of mine, to help me see Psalm 46:10 in a new and powerful way.  Her email was sent right in the middle of the December rush.  It contained nothing more than this Bible verse taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) version…

“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)

I smiled as I quickly read her thoughtful email and then continued on with my list of things to do.  It wasn’t until about a week later, when I went to stay with my sister for Christmas, that the words “cease striving” really soaked into my mind and into my heart.  I looked up the word “striving” in the dictionary.  The definition given was, “to put forth great effort to achieve or obtain something; to struggle or fight vigorously.”

Many of us (myself included) spend time each day striving to achieve goals we set on our own without even asking God for help.   We give it all we have only to realize, in the end, that constant striving is almost always nothing more than exhausting!  When we cease striving – when we set aside our need to control or to “make things happen on our own” - only then will we discover the unshakeable peace that is waiting for us.  

Our Loving God has great plans for your life in this New Year.  He longs to take on your burdens.  He desires to lead the way.  He is waiting for you with open arms.  May you recognize your need for your Savior.  May you cease striving and know that He is God.  All praise, honor, and glory to Him alone!

God’s Blessings,
Tammy