Cease Striving! Prt. 1

I was formally introduced to the call of Psalms 42.6 in a dusty classroom at the back of a tiny church, stuck in a “Preaching School”-style class on Old Testament Wisdom Literature (and Psalms) some 12 years ago.  The instructor was old, wise, and gentle (unlike some of his harsher contemporaries.)  He taught from the New American Standard version, which I personally have never preferred for its ‘choppy’ reading, despite its reputation for literal accuracy in translation.

I had two bibles out and open, an NIV and a NASB.  As we came to Psalm 46, my ears perked up because I recognized verse 10 to contain the words of a devotional song I had grown up singing... 

My NIV said it this way:

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
            I will be exalted among the nations,
            I will be exalted in the earth.”

The New American Standard rendered the verse like this, effectively giving me chills as I read it:

Cease striving* and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

            (*or Let go, relax)

The word ‘Striving’ stopped me dead in my tracks in a way “Be Still” could not.  My whole life up to that point (I was 25, I believe) had been an endless series of unceasing stress and strife, always

Striving to be perfect—the be the best at whatever I did,

Striving to look good (oh the vanity!)

Striving to be the perfect new husband,

Striving to be the best teacher/minister/speaker I could be,

Striving to be heard,

Striving to be respected,

Striving to be adored (again the vanity!)

but especially,

Striving to be at peace with myself,

Striving to be loved (by folks I didn’t even know),

Striving to be happy(!)

Always striving, always stressing, always pressing, always imagining how much better my life could be if I just tried more, worked harder, exercised more, was more disciplined, read the right books, and somehow achieved my never-ending goals of being what I believed God wished me to be.

As you can probably guess, my striving never worked!  My endless procession of ceaselessly searching for the success and happiness and peace that always seemed to allude me just around the next bend….it never worked...ever!  Even when I did something 'right' or 'praiseworthy,' there were always 10 other mishaps waiting in the wings that needed my attention immediately because they kept me from my peace and happiness.

And to this very day, my striving still never works!  When will I learn? My daily struggle is to do the very thing the Spirit through Scripture urged me to do nearly 12 years ago!  And not surprisingly, the more I strive, the greater I fail to reach what I view to be success and peace, and the more frustrated and unChrist-like I become!  Am I living the life of faith God called me to live, or a truncated version I pieced together so long ago?

Especially now – wanting to get back into vocational ministry, drifting from one volunteer fire shift to the next, one fire ground training to the next, checking the minister “want-ads” twice a week, hoping and praying that “that church” will call me for another interview, etc. etc.

It doesn’t work!  My efforts, though perhaps noble, were/are incredibly misguided. 

Are you like me in this, even just a little?  If so, I’d ask that you join me in daily trying to remember the difference between a) giving your best effort while living in Christ, and b) always trying to be good enough to satisfy and be proud of yourself…

Because again, it doesn’t work, and (as I can tell you, with some 20 years or so of ‘striving’) you will never be satisfied.  I promise you that.

So I ask you, if you experience anything similar to what I have experienced, then please, Cease Striving.  Stop it right now. Tonight. Stop trying to be the ‘super’ version of you and just sit for awhile and just be.  Pray unceasingly, live the life God has mapped out for you, and just let go of that fake version of ‘you’ and ‘your successful life’ that feeds like a parasite upon the life you were truly meant to live.

“Cease Striving and Know that I Am God” He says.  “I (not you) will be exalted among the nations, I (not you) will be exalted in the earth”

More on this to come, and I hope and pray that the Spirit will encourage you through these words,

Mark