Scripture Reading: Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Reflections: Toiling hard with little or no results is one of the most frustrating conditions that one can ever go through in life. The Psalmist describes it as a life of ‘eating the bread of sorrows’. Some people rise up so early to work and keep doing so the whole day and even into the night and yet still end up achieving nothing. They even toss up and down late into the night trying to strategize for the next day and still fail to meet expectations. Such a life, the Psalmist eventually points out, can be overturned by the Lord who ‘gives his beloved sleep’ . This is indicative of a special blessing of God which allows you to achieve more without stress, and thereby ensuring a sorrow-free sleep. The writer of Proverbs confirms this with the words ‘the blessings of God maketh rich and adds no sorrow’ – Proverbs 10:22. Certainly when you put your hand to work and end up achieving more results than expected because of the blessing of God, you are bound to have a good and enjoyable sleep. Eating the bread of sorrows should not be your portion!

Prayer: Oh Lord, bless me and let me be disengaged from a life of eating the bread of sorrows.

Confession: I am the beloved of the Lord. I am blessed. I don’t eat the bread of sorrows. I don’t toil in vain. I achieve more results with any little effort I make in life.