Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
The wall was coming up fast. It had been rubble for over 70 years. It was a mess. Job one was to clean out the rubble. Yes, some of it could be used for building material. However, a clean foundation was to be visible. A mess like this is overwhelming. Seeing it could cause motivation to leak out of them.
God can put a will to work in us. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” That’s awesome. We might be demoralized or lazy, but He can put that will in us. Another verse is Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Thank You, Lord!
I was not an industrious person when young. My wife was a great example to me. But God helped me out of my laziness. He gave me a mind to work. That doesn’t mean I have it all the time. There is the normal ebb and flow of will. I might need to rest. The problem can be that I fall into laziness. God can work that out of us.
The Israelites were in a bad way before their exile. However, that 70 years had put a hunger in them. That’s what discipline can do. Thank You, Lord!
The Jews wanted to work. They wanted their lives restored, they wanted to be right with God. They were willing to work under risky situations. They were brave.
God can put that bravery in us. That’s what God does. He can take the lowly and rise him up. He will equip us for His will. We may feel not ready, but He can make us ready. He will do it.
Thank You, Lord, for putting in us the will to work, for putting bravery in us, for giving us situations before us in which You will make us successful.