January 15, 2026

As I was praying this morning, I saw a man working. He was building a home, and he was alone. He was struggling, and I could see that he was frustrated and exhausted.

I then saw Jesus walk over to him and He put His hand on the man’s shoulder. Immediately, the man stood taller. He was filled with strength, and he was fully encouraged and restored – able to continue to work on what he was building.

I watched Jesus begin to help him, and then other people came to help. The man looked up and smiled. He was full of joy, and as he began to work again – he was aware that Jesus was with him. It changed everything for him.

Revelation poured over me…

You are not meant to do things on your own or in your own strength. Striving to do things all on your own is never what God wants for you. Doing it on your own is like pulling a giant wagon full of large boulders uphill by yourself. It’s just not possible.

This is why it’s important for us to ‘Be still – cease striving – and know who God is.’ (Psalm 46:10). He sees beyond what we can see. He knows our future. Be still. He will guide you.

Working is part of life. It’s what God created us to do. We work. We build. We love. We laugh. There are many blessings that come from our hard work, and God never meant for us to do it all on our own.

He wants to help us – to be a part of all that we do. He enjoys it so much. He created us to have a relationship with Him. Many of us do not fully understand that God wants to be in every part of our lives.

We work hard. We strive and struggle every day in our jobs, our marriage, our relationships with our husband or wife, our children and families – and many of us are trying to do all of these things in our own strength – and it’s exhausting.

God never meant for you to do all of these things without Him. He is there, and He wants to help you – simply because He loves you. Let Him in. Be still. Wait for His direction. He will send the help you need – don’t try to do it in your own strength – He has a better way. Amen.

I heard Jesus say, “My children, ask Me for help – in the small things, in the big things – in all of the things you try to do on your own.

Some of you strive to be more like Me. I see it, and I’m so pleased and proud of you – but I also see you striving without asking for My help.

I never meant for you to strive and work to the point of exhaustion – or to the point you want to give up. I have a better way for you. Let Me show you – ask Me about this.

Striving has many wonderful benefits – but it can also be harmful. There is a balance that I want you to find, and I am willing to teach you – to show you.

Striving is a tool the enemy will use against you. He will convince you that working this hard will bless you – that you can do it all by yourself without any help or guidance from Me and others. But that is not My plan for you.

I want to be a part of what you are working on – your job, your marriage, parenting your children, your ministry, whatever it is that you work hard at every single day. I want to be a part of it.

I want to guide you – to teach you – to direct you as you move forward. I will help you, and I will send others to help you. I want you to be full of joy. I want you to experience the many blessings I have in store for you.

When you strive and work to the point of exhaustion or to the point of giving up – that is not Me. That is the enemy working to stop you from succeeding in your life.

I want you to balance all that you are working and striving for with rest, and I want you to be full of joy and expectation every single day.

Work? Yes!
Strive to be the best you can be? Yes!

Invite Me into every part of your life, and I will help you do and be all that I created you to be – and I will rejoice with you as My blessings flow from Heaven over your life.

Even now, I am cheering you on!

No more striving! Only thriving!”

Hallelujah! No more striving! Only thriving! Yes, I love it!

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I want to be the first to admit that I struggle with this. I get so caught up in things I need to get done, and I get overwhelmed because my to-do list never seems to shrink or get smaller. It only seems to grow – and I stress about it to the point of exhaustion!

The Lord has been speaking to me about this for the past few months, and I had to pause everything I was doing to really hear His heart about this.

He doesn’t want us to struggle. He doesn’t want us to do all of these things in our own strength. He doesn’t want us to try and figure everything out on our own. He is there. He desires us to ask Him about all of our worries and concerns. He also loves it when we just want to spend time with Him.

The Lord has a better way for us to do things. It’s one of the changes we will experience when all the lies and evil are finally revealed. It’s why He continues to speak to us about renewing our minds – changing our mindsets. Out with the old – in with the new.

John 15:4 says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

We need Jesus in every aspect of our lives. It is by His grace that we can accomplish great things. His grace replaces striving with abiding.

It’s an honor to serve our Lord and Savior in all that we do. His love abounds all around us.

May we overflow in praise and thanksgiving and strive in grace. Amen.

In His love,
Kathy