Persevere

September 29, 2024

Dr. Paul Cannings

Have you ever felt tired of always trying to say the right thing or do the right thing?  Does it also seem like the more you try to do what God says, the more difficult the challenges seem to be?  Maybe this is why God says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9).  It is evident that there is the potential that we can get weary.

This is how the people in the book of Nehemiah felt.  They went back as Jeremiah instructed them after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.  They were the obedient ones.  Nehemiah did not go back; he stayed and enjoyed his wonderful paying, highly respected job. However, many things went wrong when these obedient people returned.  They even continued to do right despite these things (walls not restored, kids raped and taken into slavery for taxes, the crop stolen, so they starved during the winter months).  They rebuilt the temple and committed to go to it as the law stated.  The enemy did not get weaker; instead, they got stronger.  They became discouraged, their worship became routine, and the Word of God was not preached or read.  Although they had a lot of singers (Nehemiah 7:73), no joy or strength existed.  They became easily demoralized and quickly stopped working because they were worn down.  The more they did the right thing, the more worn out they became.

David felt the same way and shared this with us, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.   Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil.  For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land” (Psalms 37:3-9; NIV).

Not only will God’s people be blessed on the earth; “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12; NIV).

So remember, “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.  They will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31; NASU).

Remember when we please Him it becomes His joy, which in turn becomes our strength (Nehemiah 10b).