Anxiously Striving

            I recently read in the second chapter of Ecclesiastes where Solomon spoke of these things: pleasures, wine, and embracing folly are meaningless; great projects such as building houses, planting vineyards and fruit trees, making gardens and parks and reservoirs are meaningless.  Having slaves, singers, a harem, and amassing silver and gold are meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. 

He recognized that wisdom is better than folly…the wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but he came to realize that the same fate (death) overtakes them both.  Solomon asks, “What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?  This too is meaningless.” 

And then Solomon concludes, “To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.”

            I recognize that I repeatedly operate in a state of “anxious striving.”  And yet, seeking to be a man who pleases God, I’m learning to pray these prayers:

            God understands my pains, losses, and low points.  I need to pray that I remember that He understands, and that I lay these all in His capable hands and quit taking them back into mine.

            God wants me to see what I have.  Satan wants me to see what I don’t have.  I need to pray that I remember to be grateful for the many blessings God has given, to leave it to Him to reveal whether He has more for my life, and to quit trying to fix things myself.

            God knows what is best for me so much more than I do.  I need to pray that I find the peace that is available to me in my present circumstances.  I simply need to cut out all of my anxious striving!  How about you?

Paul Neighbors