Fighting Through

The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. Nehemiah 4:17 (NLT)

What do you do when you are up against a difficult time? When you work so hard and you’re exhausted and it feels like not matter what you do you are taking two steps backwards. How do you handle the load and not get discouraged and give up?

Today’s Bible verse talks about that. The people were working hard. They were taking shifts, not sleeping, not bathing. They were exhausted but kept working. They worked with one hand while their other hand handled a weapon so they could defend themselves against their enemies.

I know some days it feels like you should just give up and throw in the towel. Goodness knows I’ve been there. I’ve told God I am tired and I want to give up. I imagine him saying “Oh my child, you are trying to carry the load by yourself. Use what I’ve given you and just keep walking.”

When I think of what God has given me, I realize I have weapons at my disposal I think of the Holy Spirit, the Bible and Prayer. The Holy Spirit because it is he that lives in me that gives me the strength and courage to keep going. He talks to me, guides me and reminds me of who God is. He puts the right people in place to encourage me and pray for me. The Bible is also how God speaks. When I read it, I am instructed, I am challenged and emboldened and my heart finds peace. During my prayer, I pour out my heart to God. The praises for who he is and all the way he shares his love, the petitions because I am always asking him for something - for help, for courage, for people’s healing and the prayers of surrender.

Nehemiah had these tools too. He relied on the Holy Spirit for direction and protection. All throughout his journey he prayed and prayed and prayed. He knew who God was and God’s promises. He had memorized the journey of his people and he recalled God’s power during those times. Nehemiah was given a really hard task. But he wasn’t given it to carry alone. God was working with him and through him the entire time.

Nehemiah’s story encourages me to never give up. Keep trusting in the God I know and use the weapons he’s given me to keep fighting.

Dipping and Soaring!

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
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. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

Recently this text got stuck in my head. Maybe because some days I feel so tired! Don’t we all? We run here and there, do this, do that. Our lists are never ending. Right? I kept thinking about the wings like eagles….what would that feel like? I dug into it a little and as usual, it’s beautiful. This may have to be one of the texts that I hang around the house so I can remember it.

God starts off asking them if they don’t remember what he’s done and how he has provided what they need in the past. Almost a little sarcastically really “Have you not heard?” Of course they heard! The stories of his rescue from Egypt were told over and over again. It’s who they were! But, it seems like they forgot. Glad we don’t do that.

Then he goes on to tell them (again) that he gives the power. When you are totally done, can’t take any more he will give you the strength that you need. He says that when we wait for the Lord, not go ahead and try to do it ourselves but wait for the Lord, we will get all the strength and power we need.

Another really cool thing is the word renew. It means to exchange (like a suit of clothes.) In other words, you have to take off what you are carrying around and put on what God has to give you.

When we do that, we will soar! We will take off and fly gliding on the winds, dipping and circling and soaring again! I can’t help but think if we allow God to be our strength, it will be a lot more fun than a never-ending “to do” list.

Dream BIG!

I have some big dreams.  Dreams that are way bigger than me. I know these are God-sized dreams and as it has been said "If your dream doesn't scare you, then it's not from God." So what do you do when those dreams scare you?  Give up?  NO WAY!  

Usually we stop in our tracks when we start looking at what we can do and not what God can do. That's when we turn to God's Word for a "shot in the arm" of courage.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26

I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. Job 42:2

O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! Jeremiah 32:17

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

And finally, when we don't understand why it doesn't look like we think it should.....

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Isaiah 55:8

Have a very courageous day!

Perspective

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Be strong and courageous! Boy, there are days when I need to do that. The projects that loom seem to be more than I can handle. I don’t feel like I have enough of what it takes to get the job done.  Oh heck, I don’t feel like I am what it takes.

There are decisions to be made that will impact business. Should I make them? Should I call that client and ask for a different method? Should I tell my employee that they aren’t measuring up? Be strong and courageous.....

And what about personally? Is now a good time to spend the money on the home project? Did I reach out to my friend who needed support or did I get too busy with my list of to dos? Am I supposed to speak at that engagement? Be strong and courageous......

Here’s the thing.  I’m quoting a Bible verse to give me encouragement but, I’m missing the best part. I’m quoting the part where I do something....be strong and courageous. But the reason I am supposed to be strong and courageous is missing.

I am not supposed to be strong and courageous because I can make awesome business decisions. I am not supposed to be strong and courageous because I have good ideas or because I am a good friend or a good speaker. I am supposed to be strong and courageous because of what it says in the second half of the text.

For the Lord your God is with you where ever you go.

So next time you come up against a decision or a thought that has you feeling weak and afraid, repeat to yourself "The Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

That’s the reason for strength and courage. You are not alone and what he brings with him is way better than what you’ve got.

When I'm Giving Up

Some days it's just good to know where my strength comes from.

I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NCV)

With your help I can attack an army.
    With God’s help I can jump over a wall. Psalm 18:29

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.  Ephesians 6:10

He gives strength to those who are tired
    and more power to those who are weak.
Even children become tired and need to rest,
    and young people trip and fall.
But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again.
They will rise up as an eagle in the sky;
    they will run and not need rest;
    they will walk and not become tired.  Isaiah 40:29-31

But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

But, Lord, don’t be far away.
    You are my strength; hurry to help me.  Psalm 22:19

When I Am Weak, Who Is Strong?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Ever think about what this text means? We don't like to be weak. I can even make it more personal. I don't like to be weak. I am super independent and stubborn (and all my family said 'Amen'!) I've always had this mentality that I can do whatever I want. And I try. But the problem with that is life gets in the way of our "I can handle it" attitude and eventually, we are faced with things we can't handle.

When I was talking to God about this text, I made a list of things I cannot do. Let me be really honest here, right now there is a lot of things on that list. I worded it like this:

I don't have what it takes to _____________________.

I would encourage you to do this. Some things on your list might be:

I don't have what it takes to fix my health.
I don't have what it takes to get my finances in line.
I don't have what it takes to save my children.
I don't have what it takes to answer Your call.

Take some time, make your list. I know at first it may seem depressing but here is what I found. At the end of my list I realized I don't have what it takes to do anything that is really important to me. And then I realized I was empty. Empty of the feeling that I could work hard enough to fix this. Empty of the feeling that I alone had to try to make it work. Empty of the feeling that I was a failure because I couldn't make everything come together the way I wanted it to. And then, I let it go.

I gave the "Don't have what it takes" list to God and I told him I couldn't but I knew he could. And I was OK with being weak because I wasn't weak alone. My weakness allowed me to get out of the way so my True Strength could step in.

How about you?  Make your list and then let it go. Embrace weakness for then you will find your Strength.

A Minute In It - Finding Your Strength

A little time in the Word every day changes you. Take a few minutes, read these verses and ponder the questions at the bottom of the post.

To whom can the holy God be compared?
    Is there anyone else like him?
Look up at the sky!
Who created the stars you see?
    The one who leads them out like an army,
    he knows how many there are
    and calls each one by name!
His power is so great—
    not one of them is ever missing!
Israel, why then do you complain
    that the Lord doesn't know your troubles
    or care if you suffer injustice?
Don't you know? Haven't you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God;
    he created all the world.
He never grows tired or weary.
    No one understands his thoughts.
He strengthens those who are weak and tired.
Even those who are young grow weak;
    young people can fall exhausted.
But those who trust in the Lord for help
    will find their strength renewed.
They will rise on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not get weary;
    they will walk and not grow weak.
Isaiah 40:25-31 (GNT)

Who do you compare God to? When you look at the stars or the ocean, do you see them as God's handiwork? When was the last time you went out into nature to ponder God's greatness? What characteristics of God do you see in this text? What does it say will happen when you put your trust in God?