Striving to Rest

So, over the past month or so, I have been struck by all the verses in the Bible which talk about resting in Christ's strength and not striving on our own.  If we try to work with our strength, we will quickly become disheartened, lose energy, and give up. (See Ecclesiastes 9:11 below.)  However, there is so much in Scripture that tells us that our work is not  through our own strength.


"Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all." (Ecc 9:11)


"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." (Eph 6:10)


"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
   and with my song I give thanks to him." (Ps 28:7)


"My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Ps 73:26)


If we work, not with our own strength, but with God's and let His power work through us, we can actually rest, while we work. "For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." (Colossians 1:29)

So, while we toil, we rest, and while we rest, we work.  It is so easy to get caught up in our work and never rest or ask God to help us in our work.  So then, let us strive to enter the Sabbath rest of God, seeking Him, His strength, and wait for our eternal rest while we toil here on earth with His power working mightily within us.