Dare to Obey

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul,

in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations

around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they

perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6:15-16

Is there anything more exciting than seeing God move in a powerful way to accomplish what otherwise seemed impossible? To see God step in and do on our behalf what we could not do on our own creates a sense of awe and humility all at once. This was the very experience of Nehemiah and the people he served with.

Nehemiah had set his mind to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Others had tried before him and failed. Even now, some thought Nehemiah had lost his mind and others made it their life purpose to oppose him. However, the task that Nehemiah had set his mind to was one to which God had clearly called him. With this clear sense of calling, Nehemiah set about the task of rebuilding.

A quick read of the book of Nehemiah reveals that he faced all sorts of obstacles. He had to gather resources, recruit people, deal with opposition, and keep the construction project moving forward in general. There was plenty of opportunity for Nehemiah to get tired and frustrated. However, Nehemiah kept pressing on while often turning to prayer. Nehemiah’s persistence and dependence on the Lord paid off. He tells us that, “the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days” (Nehemiah 6:15). Not only did Nehemiah finish the project, he did it in an amount of time that no one thought possible. In fact, he goes on to say, “when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16).

It is my heart felt conviction that any follower of Christ has a call on his/her life. God has a purpose for you. However, rarely is that purpose easy to accomplish. God’s call is intended to shape us and form us. Development of an individual does not take place in ease. It is through the challenges and struggles that we learn to depend on God. As you explore God’s call on your life, know that like Nehemiah, you will have to lean on the Lord. However, as you do, God will bring you through. In the end, your perseverance and God’s faithfulness will become your testimony to others. Dare to step out in faith as Nehemiah did.