Long Days

“Man goes out to his work, and to his labor until the evening.” Psalm 104:23 ESV

Some workdays seem extremely long. Occasionally during my days in retailing I would joke with my associates that I’m only working a half day, after all twelve hours is literally a half day. We have grown accustomed to an eight hour work day and five day work week in the United States. But it hasn’t always been that way and in some countries a forty-hour work week is unheard of. As fortunate as we are in the United States to have such employment guidelines, there are many people who work long hours resulting in long days that tap into their strength and energy.

The Psalmist writes “Man goes out to his work, and to his labor until the evening.” The point is; we are to be working in the world God has created. God has gifted each of us with certain skills and abilities to contribute to the work of maintaining and managing His creation and to ensure that our basic needs are met and those of our neighbor.

Your work may be exhausting and time consuming, but take heart, Jesus also became weary (Jn. 4:6), and so He understands. At times His disciples were tired and exhausted, and Jesus told them to rest awhile (Mk. 6:31). And the Old Testament prophet Isaiah writes, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31 esv) So, during your long days wait on the Lord, rest in Him, and you might just mount up with wings like an eagle and finish that twelve-hour day.