Strengthen My Hands

Growing up on a dairy farm taught me many life principles at a very young age; my dad instilled in each of his six children the importance of work ethics. 

Me and Dad on the farm    

Over the years, when I have wanted to slack, I remember the times in childhood when I did a halfway job and had to re-do my work. It is much easier to do the job right the first time around!

In reading throughout the Old Testament, many laborious situations presented themselves. The Lord chose David's son, Solomon, to build a temple for the Lord. David advises his son regarding the building of the temple: "Be strong and do the work." (I Chronicles 28:10) Later, David repeats himself: "Be strong and courageous, and do the work." (vs. 20)

In both the Old and New Testaments, God uses kings or persons in powerful positions to accomplish great things for Him, which require hard work. But He also uses anyone willing to be used by Him.

God's servant, Nehemiah, was a common man who was secure and prosperous in his occupation as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. 

Nehemiah was also a man of prayer.

 

Nehemiah is deeply moved when he learns that Jerusalem's wall has broken and the gates burned--and that his people who have survived the exile are in great trouble. Nehemiah laments: "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (Nehemiah 1:4)

Nehemiah's prayers lead to God's favor with the king. The kind sends Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the task immediately appears impossible; Nehemiah faces great opposition. However, Nehemiah continues to pray to God; he does not relent in the mission he has set his hands to accomplish. At one point, he admits regarding his opposition, "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." (Nehemiah 6:9)

Nehemiah does not pray for God to change his circumstances in the midst of significant opposition.  He does not ask for a more manageable task or someone else to do the work for him. Nehemiah's prayer in the heat of resistance was, "But I prayed "Now strengthen my hands." (vs. 9b)

Nehemiah stays the course and completes the impossible task of rebuilding the wall in fifty-two days. 

The power to accomplish tasks set before us lies within us by the gift and the power of the Spirit. The answer to our prayers is typically not a change of circumstance but a change of attitude and pure obedience. We can accomplish the work by earnestly praying, "God, strengthen my hands." 

I Thessalonians 4:11 encourages us:  "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 

As men and women of prayer—let's not be afraid of the hard work—God will strengthen our hands to accomplish what may sometimes feel like little works, all for His great glory and pleasure.

Stay the Course…

Sheila