Things that hold us back, bind us, irk us, trigger us are often what we need freeing from.
As the returned Jewish exiles are working hard rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem in 445BC (reestablishing their place and their voice in Nehemiah 4) they encounter opposition that threatens to hold them back, keep them enslaved, trigger their fears & insecurities and greatly annoy them.
“What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves?”
Nehemiah 4: 2b
They had been estranged from their homeland, immersed in someone else’s world, ways and rule. The Persian king Cyrus had given provision and permission for their return but almost 100 years had passed and it was still in ruins.
Coming out of bondage is a battle that takes time and strategy, thought-out plans that are agreed on and implemented. The risk was high but the stakes were high. Their place in the world, their voice in their generation awaited their arrival.
What in your life awaits your arrival?
May we be attentive to Him in these unprecedented days,
Always
Becoming
Curiously
Drawn to Him in the wrenching sorrow
“Even if” He doesn’t seem to come through
Forlorn, fatigued, fretting, forgetting, fumbling
God lifts, leads, holds and
Heals, sometimes, and will soon for all time
I wonder with questions and beg His coming
Jesus our hope in every place and pain
Kindred sufferer, acquainted with grief
Lover of my soul
Moving mountains I don’t see and mounting movement in me
Nearer we cling, in sorrow we sing
Opened heart’s eyes through what You bring
Pondering His paths so strange and beyond
Quietly fulfilling purposes of God
Ready to strongly support hearts that are His
Silencing enemy taunting and threats
Trials entrusted to us to train our souls
Unveiling lesser hopes to which we hold
“Verily, verily” the surety of His word
Wading with Him, using shield & sword
Examining, aware
Yearning for more
Zealots for His grace & truth at our core.