When I was growing up in Indiana, there was something my dad used to tell me whenever I'd complain about a task being too hard. No matter what it was – cutting grass, bending sheet metal in the 98-degree sun – as soon as he heard any gripping, he'd just grin and bust this line on me: "Hey, son, that's why they call it WORK! It's not supposed to be easy."

The Hebrew children knew all about work. They endured years of slavery in Egypt, laboring endlessly under the whips of their masters, longing for God to deliver them. The story of their journey to the Promised Land is such a great lesson for all of us. So many times we lose sight of the fact that God will allow us to reach the mountaintop of our dreams, but we will have to do the climbing.

I was definitely raised with a strong Midwestern work ethic. But at the same time, my Christian upbringing taught me that it was "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." (Zech. 4:6). It was sometimes hard for me to reconcile that verse in my mind. I struggled with trying to figure out just what was God's job and what was my responsibility in doing the work of His kingdom.

I have come to understand that the Spirit of the Lord gives the task and then gives us the strength to complete the task. We gain this strength by ingesting the Word of God and spending time with Him in prayer. That's the kind of spiritual food God can turn into spiritual muscle. Then we will have power reserves to draw on when we face the mountains in our lives. And we will all have mountains – the enemy will see to it. But we have to just keep on climbing until we reach the top. Victory is sweet, and every victory in our lives brings our Savior glory and honor.

"For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light"

Matthew 11:30

-From 30 Days To Harmony With God by Ernie Haase