When Strivings Cease
Why striving is slavery
Our culture praises hustle.
They say that the harder you work, the higher your value.
Rest is for the weak and the lazy. There is always more work to be done and if you aren’t doing it, then you are wasting time.
After all:
You have the same hours in a day that Beyonce has.
No pain, no gain.
Good things happen to those who hustle.
What these pithy sayings imply is that the life of your dreams is within your grasp if you are willing to strive hard enough or hustle long enough.
But striving to achieve our dreams, to earn favor and standing, to fix the mess of our lives is really just a vain attempt to control something that we never had control of in the first place.
Hustle culture promises control through striving.
And striving is working beyond our capacity and God-given limitations as a way to earn God’s (or man’s) favor and to ensure a certain outcome.
I’m striving when I adopt a restrictive diet, denying my body what it wants and needs, in order to obtain a figure that better meets the societal standards of beauty.
I’m striving when I fret about my children’s salvation and buy all the Christian books, listen to all the parenting podcasts, and attempt (and often fail) to do all the “right” discipleship things to ensure they will walk with Christ in the future.
I’m striving when I’m working on an important project and neglect sleep, fellowship with believers, and time spent in the Word so that whatever it is I’m producing might meet my unrealistic standards of perfection.
I’m striving when I try to fix my life through self-improvement strategies rather than regularly repenting, putting my sin to death, and receiving God’s forgiveness.
Striving is about trying to maintain control.
Striving is a form of slavery.
The Bible offers a better way.
Instead of striving, the Bible encourages perseverance.
The word often translated as “perseverance” in the Bible means steadfastness, constancy, and endurance. It implies cheerfulness and patience.
Persevering is working heartily as unto the Lord (Col.3:32) within our natural capacity and God-given limitations (Psalm 16:6). Perseverance is a faithful response to the favor of God that is already ours, fully trusting him with the outcome of our work.
Perseverance recognizes our limitations and rests in God’s perfect control over all of life.
Perseverance is cheerfully and patiently taking the next right step in faith without worrying about the outcome.
Although the Bible never gives these specific definitions, God has revealed the attitude we ought to embody regarding our work all throughout the Scriptures.
We see it in the creation of the Sabbath when God worked hard and then rested (Gen. 2:2) and commanded us to do the same (Exodus 20:10). We see it in the perseverance of the saints recorded in Hebrews 11 who endured by faith, even though they “did not see what was promised.” (Heb. 11:39). We see it at the cross when Christ declared once and for all: “It is finished.”
Striving is the opposite of resting in the finished work of Christ.
Persevering in faith is joyfully working out of the triumph of Christ’s finished work.
As we reflect on our schedules, our to-do lists, our work ethic, our child-rearing strategies, our relationships, our fears, hopes, and dreams, we must ask ourselves:
Am I striving to earn favor with God to obtain a certain desired outcome?
-OR-
Am I resting in the finished work of Christ, persevering in faith, and trusting God with the result?
By God’s grace, may our answer always be the latter.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
If you’ve found yourself struggling with your Bible reading plan in this (almost) fifth month of the year, you are not alone! Check out some of the reflections I shared on daily Bible reading habits on Instagram by clicking here.
This past month I created a NEW FREE PRINTABLE in the Resource Library to help those of us who are looking to adopt a simpler reading plan as we build Bible reading habits that last. The plan is called “Repeat & Reflect” and you can access it by CLICKING HERE and entering the password:
TWOEDGEDSWORD
Scroll down to the bottom of the resource library page to find the link to the “Repeat and Reflect” printable.
The true and lovely things I’ve enjoyed this past month (none of these are affiliate links):
Note - Inclusion on this list does not equal a full endorsement. I read and listen widely. Please use wisdom and discernment when deciding which things to try out for yourself.
Books:
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalinithi- grab a box of tissues for this one! This heartrending memoir written by a neurosurgeon dying from lung cancer is both utterly devastating and impossibly beautiful. This book is absolutely stunning!
A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller - Psalm 23 is one of the Psalms of confidence that has most sustained and comforted me through suffering. Keller’s reflection makes it all the more beautiful. Right now, it’s only $1.99 on Amazon!
Music:
When I’m not feeling well, I tend to lean more heavily on music to speak truth to me rather than books. It tends to be a little easier on my brain. That was true this past month. I recently discovered Erik Nieder and have been loving his music lately.
Daleth (Broken Wide Open) by Joshua Biery - this beautiful song is a new release from my friend Josh! It’s inspired by the fourth stanza of Psalm 119. May it lead you to worship!
Other Things I’ve Liked:
To Revive the Spirit of the Lowly (Sermon) by Tim Keller - Tim Keller masterfully and beautifully teaches a Biblical truth from Isaiah 57 that I’ve been learning first-hand: suffering is not always a curse and prosperity is not always a blessing.
List of the Best Commentaries on TGC - The Gospel Coalition has come out with a list of the best commentaries for each book of the Bible — an invaluable resource for those wanting to build Bible literacy through personal study!
This Simple Photo Decluttering Hack - if your phone’s camera roll is (like mine!) a mix of one-time screenshots you will never need again and photos you want to keep and cherish forever, you need to try this simple and painless photo decluttering hack!
Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey by Tyler Van Halteren - a sweet cousin gifted us this children’s version of John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” and we have loved it! Both of my boys are captivated by the story and illustrations and the rich theology has led to some really meaningful discussions. Highly recommend for elementary-age children!
Praying that you will find the peace that comes when strivings cease in this coming month and forever,
Thank you Katie, I really appreciated this one! lindy B