Daily Strength

Daily Strength

LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)

One iconic symbol of an Amish community is the clothesline hung with dresses, shirts, and pants fluttering in the breeze. In winter months it takes longer for laundry to dry indoors. In the summer months it can be washed, dried, folded or ironed, and put away in a single day.

The fact that the Amish believe in simple living doesn’t mean they do their laundry in the creek. Most Amish housewives use wringer washers that were popular post–World War II. These are power washers, but since the Amish do not get their electrical power from public services, they are usually hooked up to a generator. Once washed, “spinners” remove most of the excess water before the clothes are hung to dry.

Can you imagine how long it takes to do laundry when you have seven, ten, fourteen, or more children? All the folding and ironing and putting it away only to have it get dirty again! Of course, there are always little ones who “help” by wrapping clean socks and underwear around their heads.

The thing about most household tasks is that they are so daily. They seem never-ending. They aren’t projects we can mark off our lists and say, “Done.” The same thing is true about seeking God’s strength. We can’t fill up once a month or once a week; we must turn to Him every day for more: “God’s desire is for us to encounter His Word truth by truth until there isn’t a folded piece left,” writes author Jen Hatmaker. “He wants to find us covered in Scripture and loving every minute of it.”

“I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word,” reads Psalm 130:5. Just as you can count on laundry always being there, you can count on God’s showing up to help you with every task you face.

Dear heavenly Father, even though my daily tasks never end, I’m thankful that You are always there to provide strength. I am counting on You today, Lord.