Wait.
Wait wait wait wait
wait…..! Ugh!
Many of us struggled with this part of Lesson 04 of the
Nehemiah study. We share a passion to
see things done effectively and efficiently in our world while still keeping a
perspective of how things are affecting those around us. But to tell us to wait? Haven’t we waited long enough?
Often, I find myself in the same boat as these amazing
women: filled with a vision of destiny and yet so very limited by my “here and
now” circumstances. You may liken it to
a paraplegic who was once an amazing athlete or a person in the throes of the
aging cycle who used to be so independent.
Waiting can feel like a trap. And
acting on a whim can feel like the solution.
But a whim fails.
Sure, sometimes you pull it off without a hitch and internally wonder “how on earth did I make that happen??”
Most times, though, the whim is an immature response to our fear of the
wait.
What a great encouragement Nehemiah’s example was,
then! He waited in prayer before he
spoke to the king, he waited in inspection of the city’s status, and he waited
in sharing the king’s approval of his mission (Nehemiah 2:20). Likewise, we can have freedom from lies that
tell us we have to rush forward when we remember that restraint is not a bad
thing. Waiting helps us to see a
different perspective while God works out the details.
- Details like officers and horsemen to protect you. Nehemiah did not ask for them, but the King provided them anyways. Earlier, Ezra needed them as well, but was ashamed to ask for them (See Ezra 8:22). Despite Ezra’s shame and Nehemiah’s lack of shame, God provided. God does not need us to come to Him with all our shame, but He does not turn away from us when we bring it to Him either. In both circumstances, He provides exactly what we need. And so we can confidently wait on Him.
- Details like opposition that is already in place. Nehemiah likely knew of Ezra’s opposition when he tried to rebuild the wall years earlier, but he had no way of knowing what was to come. Sanballat and Tobiah proved to be deeply threatened by Nehemiah’s attempts to rebuild the wall. Nehemiah needed the confidence that God had sent him, not the king. As the footnotes in my Bible read, “Knowing that God is behind your task is the best incentive to move ahead in the face of opposition.” Certainly Nehemiah’s preparation for this task showed that God was behind Him. God will show us too, when we seek Him. And we can confidently wait on Him for this also.
Sanballat and Tobiah were city officials, probably similar
to mayors or governors as we know leadership today. If the city was rebuilt, Sanballat and Tobiah
would receive less money in taxes, which would be reason enough to be
threatened by the welfare of the city and its people. Even more threatening was the knowledge that the
rebuilding of Jerusalem threatened their entire position of power. Think about it – would you be more threatened
by a decrease in pay or a possibility your job was going to be eliminated?
Their response makes sense from a worldly perspective. In order to survive in our world, we often
find this threat creeping into our lives.
It may come in the form of competition in our workplace, jealousy in a
circle of friends, or a broken economy. Why?
Because the root of the problem is not work, not jealousy, and not opportunity!
The root of our entire issue with waiting is security.
We desperately want something true and solid to stand on in
life, so we look to jobs, property, relationships, or wealth. Every
single time we are disappointed in the long run. Everything we use to try and stand on aside
from God’s truth fails us. And I would
challenge you with this today: it was
made to do so! Do you get that? Our world was designed to collapse so that we
would land on the one thing that does
not shift for all eternity: God. (See Hebrews 12:27)
All this from learning about Nehemiah’s wisdom in waiting… wow! It’s hard to imagine how nearly 2,500 years
ago there was a man living in a world so dramatically different than ours, and
yet we can relate so intensely to his story!
That’s the thing: it’s not about Nehemiah’s story. It’s about God’s thread through history. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow,
and His truth applies to every generation.
Including ours!
 |
| Jerusalem at Sunrise, May 2012 |
- Nehemiah’s waiting makes me wonder: what caused him to wait? What life experiences caused him to stop and consider things before he acted on them? What life experiences have charged you to wait before you act on, or react to, something?
- What things do you find yourself turning to when life gets tough? Does this thing have a possibility of failing you? How would you react if even that one thing crumbled?
- What are some active ways you can choose to wait on God and seek Him for your confidence instead of other forms of pseudo-security?
- Do you get annoyed or frustrated when you see insecurity in others? Take time to pray for the people you know who are struggling with a very obvious form of insecurity.
- What vision have you had for your life that you are still waiting on God for? Has He given you any direction to act on that vision? Do you ever fear acting on something God tells you to act on for fear of not being able to tell what the result will be? Pray for God to give you confidence to step out when He gives you a vision.
Nehemiah Bible Study
If you want to join my friends and I and dive into this FREE Bible study, click here! You can do it solo or start a group. The study is posted online each week along with a companion study guide. And if you do decide to jump into the fun, please email me with your thoughts on the lessons. I hope to hear form you!
Special thanks for the practical application of all the ladies in attendance this week! You’re stories and thoughts are a blessing!
No comments:
Post a Comment