Last week my son and I chased after a little blue racquet ball in a small enclosed room. We whacked the thing with our rackets, chasing hard from one end to the other. We were so focused on hitting it again and again that we didn’t stop to realize just how much effort it was taking out of us! When we stopped after 20 minutes, to get a drink of water, we suddenly realized how wiped out we were. Wow! That took me by surprise. It wasn’t until I slowed down…stopped…that I could see how much of my energy I had put into it. While I was focused on the ball, I didn’t notice. My efforts weren’t obvious to me. But once I stopped, I got a totally different perspective. WOW!
How much effort and energy–either emotional, mental, or physical–do I put into chasing after becoming “normal,” or of having a body I don’t despise or feeled betrayed by? I think sometimes I am so focused on some elusive “goal” (like I am on the blue ball in the racquetball court) that I don’t realize all the effort and energy I am putting into it.
Even so, I am so thankful that, even as I ask this question, God is confirming to my spirit that I have grown! It isn’t nearly so bad as it was before. I think there IS freedom on the wind! I can sense the change that God is bringing. Even now…yup. I know I have said this before, but the freedom I am tasting right now is different.
Psalm 46:10 in the New American Standard Version says: “Cease striving and know that I am God.”
This idea…”cease striving”–intrigues me as “striving” definitely seems to define what I have done for so long relative to this pursuing something that always seems beyond my grasp. In the original languages, the word “striving” isn’t there, but is implied. The actual translation might be “Cease and know that I am God.” The word, “cease,” has many meanings, but translators felt in the NASB this was the most reasonable.
Using the Strong’s Concordance, the word translated “Cease” can have these many meanings:
The NIV uses: “Be still…”
The Amplified Bible uses: Let be and be still…
The Holman Christian Standard Version says: “Stop…”
This reminds me of Jesus’ words to Martha… “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
I can almost hear the Lord saying to Martha: “Cease! Know I am God!”
How much of my striving, going, chasing, pursuing is hindering my ability to know the Lord is GOD Almighty! If I focus so much on what I chase after, is it possible it keeps me from really knowing the Lord in the way he wants to be known?
There is freedom in letting go of the chase. In sitting still. In waiting. In being. Quiet. Ah…rest.
In Jeremiah 6:16, the Word of God says:
God forbid that we reject the rest that God promises. Let us CEASE our striving, our chase and, instead, stand and look…and ask HIM what HIS good way is…there is rest for my SOUL in that place. This is true freedom. Free from a constant chasing after the wind, after something to which God doesn’t call. The wonderful thing about seeking GOD is that HE wants to be found!
call on him while he is near.
Heidi, what a peaceful picture you've painted with your words. Thank you! I'll join you in "ceasing striving" and just being still in Him…"There is freedom in letting go of the chase. In sitting still. In waiting. In being. Quiet. Ah…rest."Yes, yes! This is what I've been experiencing today, too! I am at a typically chaotic time for a teacher…report cards, conferences…oh, and I've started my masters…but today He has delighted me in a peace and rest that I just cannot explain, and can only give Him the glory. I feel so rested (oh, and I have a bad cold!) and satisfied…and FREE. Thanks again for your writing piece today, it really blessed me.
Heidi, what a peaceful picture you've painted with your words. Thank you! I'll join you in "ceasing striving" and just being still in Him…"There is freedom in letting go of the chase. In sitting still. In waiting. In being. Quiet. Ah…rest."Yes, yes! This is what I've been experiencing today, too! I am at a typically chaotic time for a teacher…report cards, conferences…oh, and I've started my masters…but today He has delighted me in a peace and rest that I just cannot explain, and can only give Him the glory. I feel so rested (oh, and I have a bad cold!) and satisfied…and FREE. Thanks again for your writing piece today, it really blessed me.
Heidi, what a peaceful picture you've painted with your words. Thank you! I'll join you in "ceasing striving" and just being still in Him…"There is freedom in letting go of the chase. In sitting still. In waiting. In being. Quiet. Ah…rest."Yes, yes! This is what I've been experiencing today, too! I am at a typically chaotic time for a teacher…report cards, conferences…oh, and I've started my masters…but today He has delighted me in a peace and rest that I just cannot explain, and can only give Him the glory. I feel so rested (oh, and I have a bad cold!) and satisfied…and FREE. Thanks again for your writing piece today, it really blessed me.
Heidi, what a peaceful picture you've painted with your words. Thank you! I'll join you in "ceasing striving" and just being still in Him…"There is freedom in letting go of the chase. In sitting still. In waiting. In being. Quiet. Ah…rest."Yes, yes! This is what I've been experiencing today, too! I am at a typically chaotic time for a teacher…report cards, conferences…oh, and I've started my masters…but today He has delighted me in a peace and rest that I just cannot explain, and can only give Him the glory. I feel so rested (oh, and I have a bad cold!) and satisfied…and FREE. Thanks again for your writing piece today, it really blessed me.
Thanks for the bit about Psalm 46. As I was reading I thought about it as, "Knock it off, and know that I am God"! That's really profound and actually more meaningful to me than the often quoted "Be still…"The last couple of weeks I've been in a bad attitude dilema. I'm tired of "trying" and being conscious about my eating. At the same time I think of Peter in John 6:67-69:"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." My dilema, of course, is really that I am trying to do the work of God in my flesh rather than resting in Him and allowing His Spirit to move in me.Am I tired of strving? Yes, because I was never meant to strive. Thanks for the thought provoking question :)Yvonne
Thanks for the bit about Psalm 46. As I was reading I thought about it as, "Knock it off, and know that I am God"! That's really profound and actually more meaningful to me than the often quoted "Be still…"The last couple of weeks I've been in a bad attitude dilema. I'm tired of "trying" and being conscious about my eating. At the same time I think of Peter in John 6:67-69:"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." My dilema, of course, is really that I am trying to do the work of God in my flesh rather than resting in Him and allowing His Spirit to move in me.Am I tired of strving? Yes, because I was never meant to strive. Thanks for the thought provoking question :)Yvonne