“I have labored in vain.”
Have you ever said something like, “I have worked, but how hopeless it is! I have used up my strength, but have accomplished nothing” (Isaiah 49:4, GNT)?
When our efforts on the relationship, the craft we have felt called to, or the thing we have emptied our heart and soul into, only to find after months turned years, there is no evidence of change, no positive outcome for our hard work.
Our hope begins to fade as we become more frustrated and grow weary.
Isaiah felt this way when he wrote, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God” (Isaiah 49:4, NIV).
Various translations capture the agony of his futile laboring this way:
- “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.” (NLT)
- “I’m completely worn out; my time has been wasted.” (CEV)
- “I have worked hard for nothing. I have used my strength, but I didn’t accomplish anything.” (GWT)
Isaiah was confessing the truth about how he felt; all his efforts seemed useless. He was utterly worn out from trying so hard. His feelings told him his hard work was for nothing. His sense of purpose behind all of his efforts had begun to fade.
Isaiah had a calling to be a messenger for God to His people. Here we find him exasperated over his efforts because the people were stubborn and refused to listen. Still, with the same breath in his honest conversation with God, Isaiah made another confession. “Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward” (Isaiah 49:4b, NLT). The GNT says, “Yet I can trust the LORD to defend my cause; he will reward me for what I do.”
Isaiah may have questioned his God-given purpose based on the fruits of his labor, but he didn’t stay there long. Instead, he put the results on God. “I leave it all in the LORD’s hand.” Isaiah knew a truth that transcends our efforts, our blood, sweat, and tears poured out pursuing a desired outcome that is yet to occur.
Isaiah believed that as frustrating as his work had become, his purpose had not wavered, and he was not in charge of the outcome. Isaiah was responsible for showing up every day with his ears positioned to hear anything the LORD wanted him to do or say, then do whatever was asked. How the people of Israel responded was NOT his burden to bear.
Isaiah goes on to say, “I am honored in the sight of the LORD” (Isaiah 49:5). He trusts God with the outcome. Isaiah recalls how God looks at him with honor rather than how the rebellious people probably tried to make him feel for speaking things they did not want to hear.
Relying on God’s view of him gave Isaiah the grit to continue. “And my God has become my strength” (Isaiah 49:5). When we leave our extreme efforts in the hand of God, trust the results to Him, and see ourselves the way God sees us, our weariness will lessen, and we gain the strength needed to keep moving forward. Our stamina is no longer self-made, but supernatural.
We understand anew the strength Christ provides that empowers us to do anything. (Philippians 4:13) We hear the call of Christ to come. “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
We, at this point, have a decision to make.
Will we allow God’s view of us to speak louder than the other voices? Will we tune our ears toward heaven for our next steps? Will we answer the call of Christ to come to Him and gain strength?
Our path may have led us to a point where we are ready to give up, but when we tell God everything and listen to Him, our outlook changes. God, through us, can do “abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20, NRSV).
I pray that you will answer the call of Christ to come to Him, release your striving, all your hard work to His hand, and trust the outcome to Him. May God grant you wisdom on your next steps, and may you sense the strength of Christ surging through your body, enabling you to keep walking where He leads. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: with palms up, “God, I release _______ to Your hand.”
Reflect: What is the thing for which you have been striving hard? How has your identity been affected by what others say about you? Are you relying on your strength or Christ’s strength? Have you released it and the outcome to Him? Have you lost a sense of your purpose? If so, ask God to renew the purpose He has given you.
Rooted: Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 73:21-28; Ephesians 2:4-10
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(Bible References: NRSV – New Revised Standard Version, NLT – New Living Translation, CEV – Contemporary English Version, NIV – New International Version, GNT – Good News Translation, GWT – God’s Word Translation)
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