“When everything is moving and shifting. the only way to counteract chaos is stillness. When things feel extraordinary, strive for ordinary. When the surface is wavy, dive deeper for quieter waters.”
– Kristin Armstrong – Athlete
“I cannot make my days longer so I strive to make them better” – Paul Theroux What a great thought and an excellent aim. To STRIVE in this sense means to make great efforts to achieve or gain something. We strive for virtues of character, independence, growth, and success. We strive for goals and hope to accomplish them. Antonyms for this type of striving are: to surrender, succumb, yield, or withdraw. God places vision inside us. Opposition and difficulties cause us to retreat. The LORD calls us to strive toward His dream and persevere.
To STRIVE also means to struggle or fight vigorously. The psalmist Korah assures us in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength is a very present help in the time of trouble.” The Lord brings calm to both our fears and the struggle within. He commands, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to endure the Lord’s chastening as sons and not to lose heart when He corrects us, “You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Believers are in constant contention with the forces of darkness. Galatians 5:17 reminds us of the continual struggle for God’s Spirit inside us to defeat our fleshly, carnal, impulses.
Scripture is clear that we are to do good, seek and pursue peace with others, and not strive with them. (1 Peter 3:11) Galatians 5:22 reveals that one fruit of God’s Spirit— gentleness or meekness, includes giving up our rights of retaliation. Our human tendency is to fight and seek revenge. This type of striving is something we have to relinquish and put to death. “Do not strive with a man without cause if he has done you no harm. (Proverbs 3;30) “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18). Paul admonished his mentee, Timothy, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes knowing that they generate strife. (angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict) And a servant of the LORD must not strive (quarrel) but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God will perhaps grant them repentance, so they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26) These days it seems like everyone wants to fight and gain power. Some fights belong to God. He’s more than able to win. Put your dukes down, the verbal ones too. Stop striving, and let Him fight for you.
