Volume 7: Rest in Great Work

 

Nehemiah 6:3 I am doing a great work and cannot come down.

We read this verse on Sunday in Father Mike's Bible in a year podcast. And it so happened to be the Sunday I was in Macon and heading to Vineville for church. 

Over 8 years ago, I remember sitting with Mike and Ann for our first Bible Study at Chick-Fil-A and Mike read Nehemiah 6:3 to us and encouraged us that being a Christian was not going to be easy. That we were going to face opposition and would not be considered "cool." BUT that following Christ would be a GREAT work. And that we would be "building the wall" together. 

Flash forward to present day, as I sat there during Sunday School with Mike teaching, Lindsay chiming in with her unexpected sass, and Jody cracking jokes, I couldn't help but just smile. What a great work they've been doing as youth leaders for so many years, impacting MANY lives. And how thankful I am that they laid my foundation to continue on this great work. 

Mike was right... Being a Christian isn't always easy, but WHEW the Lord is faithful and continues to prove that time and time again. Specifically through the people He has provided to help me continue on this Great Work. 

The other day there was a triathlon in Chattanooga and the streets were lined with spectators cheering on the runners. When I was driving by, I became overwhelmed with thankfulness as I thought about all of the people that have been cheering me on in this life, as I run this race of life. From the Kinnebrews to Summer Dawn, Hope, Ann, Cali Ruth, Sarah, Katherine in high school to Maggie, Jess, Alex, Babybash, Becca, Lily, my discipler and my wyldlife team in college to Elliott, Summerson and Hughes in post grad to Debbie, Ali, Merry Grace, Yellerton, and Frannie in Ozark to everyone in between. 

Nehemiah had a very big task at hand - building the wall around Jerusalem. And he faced a lot of opposition. Yet, he was prayerful in all of his decisions. He was a wise leader. And he knew that no matter what he was doing, it was God's work. 

We all have a big task at hand - being the hands and feet of Jesus here on this earth. We face a lot of opposition. But may we be prayerful and seek wisdom and participate in God's work with joy and gratitude.

How faithful the Lord has been and will continue to be! May we rest in God's goodness and provision.