Struggling or Striving?

"Strive" is a word that can have both a positive and negative connotation; so is it a character trait we should develop in our walk with the Lord?

The person you sometimes see trying to “do it all” in his own strength, with no reliance on God (or help from anyone else) is a common example of what we view as striving. Or maybe it’s the person who goes back and forth consulting so many people they end up more confused than when they started, and, like the proverbial hamster circling its wheel, getting nowhere. We can probably all relate.

One day this past summer, I went out to sit in the sun on the back deck. I’d recently had knee surgery so couldn’t do a whole lot, but that didn’t matter to me; I love sitting outdoors in a natural setting and soaking it all in. As I gazed upon the green trees against the blue sky, and watched the birds and dragonflies flitting here and there, God spoke. “See - they just are! They are simply "being" as I created them. They do not worry or fret about whether they are doing what they are supposed to."

It was as if the little chickadees were saying, “I am because of I AM.” They weren’t striving over their purpose or who they were. That day, Abba was showing, “Rest in Me. Just be. I’ve got you.” In fact, in Hebrew the expression "cease striving" means to "let your hands drop" or to "let go" or "relax."

Psalm 55:22 declares, "Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken” and we read in I Peter 5:7, "cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." So resting in God is a mark of our trust and faith in Him; in our acknowledgment that He is God and we are His; that He knows best and has us in the palm of His hand.

So does that mean we shouldn’t be striving? Well, let’s look at what that word means.

Merriam-Webster defines “strive” as, 1: to devote serious effort or energy: (that sounds good!) It’s similar to an endeavor, as in, “strive to finish a project.” and 2: to struggle in opposition: contend.

The dictionary shows that to strive can indeed be a positive attribute. In fact scripture agrees, even encouraging us to strive, as in Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

As for defining strive as "contend," Jude verse 3 says, Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. In other words, Jude is saying fight for your faith!

So yes, most definitely spend intimate time with the Father seeking His face and resting in His presence – often! But also strive, contend, diligently search, keep on pressing forward, dig deeper, go higher, question, seek, and knock on the door! God LOVES it when you want more of Him!

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.