Serving God When You Feel Like Quitting

DAY 151
2-23-10
NEHEMIAH 4-6


Good Morning!

The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.” The habit of quitting is not a habit that will help a Christian serve God and be faithful all the days of their life. Serving God when it is hard or a challenge is how God develops discipline in our lives.

Much of Nehemiah’s leadership was trying to keep the workers from quitting when it got hard or extremely challenging. They were looking around and were distracted by all the things that were “good excuses” for walking away from their work.

The challenges were real, but they failed to remember that God was involved. What were their real challenges? People were against them; too much to do; fear; fatigue; hunger; high taxes; lies; and intimidation. Nehemiah reminded them that “our God will fight for us!" (4:20)

In the end, Nehemiah was able keep them from quitting. In 6:15-16 we are told that “the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.”

Don’t quit. God never does. Don’t let hard work and discouragement keep you from serving the Lord your God.

Barry