"It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives His beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2, ESV)
The key phrase here is, "anxious toil." We know that, "toil," is not the problem; "anxious," is. It is the cause of many sleepless nights.
Work, even very "hard work," is no problem. What ruins a person is, "anxious work." If one looks back over the years of his/her life, we soon realize that much of what caused anxiety had no justification. We have all heard, "Well, that's easy to say now." Yes, "after" is always easier than before. But as I once entitled a sermon, "The God of the before and after," this is indeed our Living Triune God in Jesus Christ. Consider the Faithfulness of Jesus in the past. Jesus' Faithfulness will be the same in the "future."
Looking back and giving thanks takes little "faith." Looking forward and giving thanks requires, "looking unto Jesus," faith. Let's look back today and consider just how foolish was, "anxious toil." Look forward today with the same consideration.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do thank You for all You have done and been to me in the past. I thank You today for all You will do and "be" to me in the future. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
