Have you ever had one of those long days on the job with seemingly hundreds of problems and half as many solutions rolling toward you?  It’s uncanny how fast the clock rolls past quitting time,  and the decision has to be made to leave the pile where it is only come back to tackle it again the next day.

We’ve all had this day more than once in our career.  We slog home and slump into our easy chair thinking that we’ve had a tough day.  I recall many of those days where the dread of the next day would set in before I closed my eyes for sleep the night before.

When it seems that sun is rising over the mountain that was once a mole hill and after too much bellyaching, I am compelled to offer these words that I have heard in my spirit more than once:

“So you think you’ve had a tough day?  What about the total fury of hell that Jesus Christ held from your throat today?  I think you got off pretty easy.”

We can get so wrapped up in our own little universe some days, thinking that we are some kind of superman that can solve everything.  When we assume the role of creator, all we do is create problems for ourselves and those around us.  And while we play master and try to manage our little projects, Jesus is fighting back the hell that stands at our door.

And to think we have tough days… forgive us Father for our selfishness.

Ecclesiastes talks about the work we do in our lives and that we all are created to toil.   Webster defines Toil: long strenuous fatiguing labor. This toil is our lot in life.  The writer of Ecclesiastes also tells us that the only worthy pursuit in this life is to find joy in our toil.  Anything else is wasted.  Understand that the point isn’t the toil… it will be wherever you go… the point is to praise God in all that you do.

I am thankful for the toil.  I am thankful that all I have to do is “turn the soil by the sweat of my brow” and Jesus fights the real fight for me.  I am beyond thankful that Jesus Christ stands behind the enemy lines protecting me from the real battle of life.  Without faith, there would be little hope in each day.  Without Jesus standing over me, protecting me from all kinds of atrocities, I would surely die a painful death.

How sad it would be to find myself at the end of life… having toiled but never having joy.  How can I not celebrate each day and the Grace of God knowing that He is fighting for me?

May you find that your toil… is just your toil.  And may you discover that the daily headaches of your toil is nothing compared to the battle that Jesus fights on your behalf.   God sent his son so you could be free from the grasp of hell.   The struggles you face are nothing compared to His fight for you.  Thank Him now, man-up, and praise Him deeply for that breath you just took.

Peace,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31
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