Stop Striving

“It is honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.” 

Proverbs 20:3

When swimmers need help, their rescue can’t happen until they stop struggling. It goes against our instinct, but it’s how the saving takes place. So it is spiritually.

Satan loves to stir up a good panic; pride in our own way; or the lie that it all depends on us. It keeps us striving against our help from the Lord. In Proverbs 20:3 the Hebrew word translated “can start a quarrel” can mean obstinate. Obstinate means, “…stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.” That’s what we sometimes do to the Lord, while He’s working to rescue us.

When the Lord rescued Saul, he told him he was kicking against the goads – the very thing providing recuse and direction. (See Acts 26:14.) Can you imagine if the body of Christ collectively ceased striving for even one day to allow God to do what He does through us? Lord, may it be! That sounds like relief and still waters. It doesn’t mean we sit around like bumps on a log. We put our effort into believing Him, resting in His Word and prayer, hearing and obeying. We stop resisting His wisdom. John 15:5 always gives me such relief and calms me to stop striving,

“I am the vine; you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him,

he it is that bears much fruit,

for apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

I want to trust in His wisdom and watch His plans unfold. Lord, please help us to stop striving and rest in You.