So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. (Nehemiah 4:16-17 NKJV)
The work of pursuing our dreams, purposes and calling requires greater commitment and persistence. Nehemiah and his team were so committed to building the walls that when war was imminent they built with one hand and carried the weapon with another. They did not run or quit when it was difficult. They might have worked slowly because they had to carry weapons while building but nevertheless they continued.
Do not stop because of opposition, adapt and persevere. Many people bail out at the first sign of struggle. Be committed and persevere to achieve and be what the Lord has decreed over your life.
Challenges and struggles
1 Corinthians 16 verse 8 -9 says, 'But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me'.
In the verse above Paul recognizes that a door or opportunity for ministry has opened for him. He also recognizes that there are many who oppose him. Yet he still says, 'I will stay on'. Opportunity came with opposition and he choose to press on and pursue the opportunity in the midst of opposition. This is nothing but commitment at its best. He did not give up, he did not throw in the towel, he stayed on.
I am reminded of the famous Psalm 23, where it says 'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies'. Do not leave the table or banquet because of the presence of your enemies. Stay on! Rather eat with one hand and carry your weapon with the other. Opposition and enemies are not a reason to quit. They are part of the equation. Be encouraged not to be numbered among the quitters.
Challenges and struggles test our commitment and motive.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV)
Trials come to test the genuineness of our faith. Challenges also make bare our motives. You will know who is really with you when the road becomes steep. Dark days will reveal who your real friends are. When opposition rises, those who remain resolute and committed to the cause will be unshaken and unmoved. Those who stay on and persist by your side are with you.
Challenges build our character
In this journey, God is not only interested in what we are achieving. He is also interested in what we are becoming. While at times we are focusing solely at reaching the finish line, God is at work within us, molding, pruning and changing us to be more like Him. When you reach the finish line you would not have only succeeded, but you would have become a better person.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
Even though trials do not come from God, God can use them to build your character and make you mature. Without character and maturity, the success you achieve will destroy you. Therefore with this perspective, consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kind.
When faced with trials respond with commitment and persistence. Commitment say I will not remove my hands from the plough, and persistence says I will press on. Persistence is rising up every time your fall. Commitment is looking past the storms and seeing the goal. Use commitment and persistence to bring to pass your goals.
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