Bearing burdens for Jesus like Nehemiah

For almost seven years now I actually have carried a prophetic word God gave me in July of 2017. You can read about that here.

Over the past almost seven years, I actually have personally faced quite a few spiritual attacks on myself, my family, and my leadership in pastoring and leading Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs.I inform you all that, to inform you this. What we stock for God, matters to God! And what we stock for God impacts every part about our lives, especially our relationships.

Now, none of us will carry what God asks us to hold perfectly, but nonetheless, if God asks you to hold it, don’t stop! God spoke a prophetic word to me in 2001 and I needed to carry it for nearly six years. I discuss that within the book, “The Mystery of 23: God Speaks.”

I find myself at times now begging God to release me from the burdens He has asked me to hold for Him. Maybe you possibly can relate. Maybe He hasn’t given you a prophetic burden to hold but as a substitute you carry the burdens of a ministry you lead, friends who’re struggling of their marriage or possibly it is your marriage that’s struggling, a member of the family who hates you, a baby who won’t take heed to you, a health issue you possibly can’t get relief from, a financial woe that will not let up, possibly a struggle you might have never shared with anyone else. Maybe you might be like me, possibly you might be bored with carrying that burden. Weary, dare I say!

Nehemiah understood this dilemma of burdens for the Lord and weariness within the journey of carrying them. Listen to how He described it: “The burden bearers carried their loads in such a way that every labored on the work with one hand and with the opposite held a weapon” Nehemiah 5:15. 

It will likely be not only one burden we stock but multiple burdens. We labour within the work with one hand and fight to guard what’s been entrusted to us with the opposite hand. Maybe you might be weary. Maybe you might be tempted to let go of the rope of what God has asked you to steward. Everything in you is screaming ‘quit’! Fear is mounting. Frustration is growing. Fatigue is taking up. I can not inform you how over and over I actually have felt this cycle in my life within the last seven years. The burn from the tug of the rope in my hand and the burden that bears down on my shoulders has caused me often to query whether I need to hold this for the Lord. And then amid this weighty moment, possibly you ask someone to hold it with you and also you experience not only the burden of the burden but the frustration and rejection from those you might have asked to hold it with you. Or possibly there are individuals who once carried it with you, but not are willing.

Nehemiah understood this combo of weighty discouragement and the frustration and rejection from those he asked to assist him carry these burdens.

Nehemiah 3:5 says, “But their nobles WOULD NOT put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.”

Sometimes the Lord allows us to struggle and feel as if the burden of the burden will destroy us after which on top of that we have now “nobles” who refuse to burden themselves with us for the Lord. I do not know where you could be within the cycle of your burden and discouragement straight away, but I need to remind you of what Nehemiah told his people.

“And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the remainder of the people, tThe work is GREAT and widely opened up, and we’re separated removed from each other on the wall. Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:19). 

Then Nehemiah prayed this prayer: “Remember for my good, O my God, all that I actually have done for this people. (Your people, God)” (Nehemiah 5:19).

Look at what happens.

“So the wall was finished …And when all our enemies heard of it, all of the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their very own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been completed with the assistance of our God” (Nehemiah 6:15). 

I really like these confident words of Nehemiah and I invite you to hope this too…

“O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who enjoyment of revering your name. Give success to your servant TODAY and grant him mercy within the sight of this man! At the time, I used to be cupbearer to the king. And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me.  The God of heaven is the one who will give us success” (Nehemiah 1:11).

Whatever God has asked you to hold for Him, say “yes” again to Him today.

“Forty years you (God) sustained them within the wilderness in order that they lacked nothing; their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t swell” (Nehemiah 9:21).

The burden the Lord has asked you to hold won’t kill you, but quitting on God just may. Oh, you will likely keep respiration and your heart beating, but your calling shall be gone, and your purpose shall be mute, and your life shall be massively unfulfilled because it fades into the grey matter of nonexistent existence while still respiration. Don’t let go of what God has asked you to hold. Hebrews says it best:

“So take a latest grip along with your drained hands and strengthen your weak (praying) knees. Mark out a straight path on your feet in order that those that are weak and lame won’t fall but (by your example) turn into strong” (Hebrews 12:12-15).

Can I provide you with a word of encouragement? Say yes to whatever God is asking you to hold and watch Him increase the strength of your resources. Pray Ezra’s prayer:

“For He (God) is sweet, for His steadfast love endures endlessly!” (Ezra 3:11). 

When you might be frightened, burdened, terrified, consumed with worry, weary to the purpose of quitting, pray this and watch God work through you, around you, and yes, for you.