by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor
I said I wasn’t going to do it. But then I did it. Then I stopped doing it. And I said I wasn’t going to do it again. But then I did it again. Once again, I stopped doing it. Lo and behold, when the opportunity came up, I decided to do it again.
What am I speaking about?
The process went like this: Years ago, I began working toward another theological degree. But my work as an author, as the (then) President of Word Weavers International, the Director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, a frequent speaker, and (yes) my family and personal life simply got in the way. I couldn’t do it all, no matter how badly I wanted the end result.
So, I quit.
Some time later, the school reached out to me and said, “But you’re almost done! Don’t you want to finish?” With the work being online (or virtual), I figured, sure. Why not? And so I started back. But, once again, with a heavy workload and family obligations, I. Just. Couldn’t. Do. It.
So, I quit. Again.
And then the school reached out to me one more time. “You’re so close!” I agreed that I was. “We have a new program,” they said. “Check it out.” And so, I did. And I liked what I saw. I not only wanted the end result, I found myself wanting the path to the end result. Because, let me just tell ya, I love, love, love reading and studying God’s Word.
So, I said, “I’m back!”
Two of the most recent courses have centered on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, both books I know well. Or so I thought. Isn’t that the thing about the Bible? The more you read it, the greater the nuggets discovered within it.
So, check this out—in 538 B.C., Zerubbabel (under Persian King Cyrus) led 50,000 former Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem. They rebuilt the temple of the Lord, but only after a 20-year struggle (at some point, their work was stalled, but they eventually finished).
Then, in 458 B.C., Ezra (under Persian King Artaxerxes) led 2,000 Jewish men and their families back to Jerusalem. There he confronted the spiritual disobedience of the people and reestablished worship at the temple. Ezra had some difficult issues to face with the people, but he did so from a strong spiritual place.
Finally, in 445 B.C., Nehemiah (under the Persian King Artaxerxes), led a small group of exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city. The opposition was intense and those who wanted to stop the work—even though it was ordered and supported by the king himself—used every trick in the book (so to speak) to stop the work.
If you’re doing the math, you can see that the opposition toward Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah lasted over 100 years. One hundred years of “take this” and “take that.” But these three men, and those who followed them, didn’t stop until the work was finished.
(Point taken, Lord. Point taken.)
It’s easy, isn’t it, when things get tough, or life gets too busy, to stop in the work God has called us to. Even when we know He—the Creator of the Universe and the One we want to please the most—has called us to it . . . it’s just much easier to lay the work down and say, “Well, I coulda . . .”
Here’s the other point I’d like to make—if you read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, you’ll discover the one thing that rooted these men (and the people who worked beside them) in their commitment to finish whatever God had placed before them to do was prayer and praise. They were committed to prayer, to studying God’s Word, and to living lives dedicated to what they found therein. They were equally committed to raising their hands and their voices in thanksgiving.
Writer, if God has called you to a work, do it and do it well. Pray against the opposition and praise the One who gives you strength, talent, and the desire to complete the task.
See you at graduation 😊.
TWEETABLE
Dearest Eva Marie,
ReplyDeleteOh, how I identify with you. I was memorized with your speaking at the last Asheville Christian Writer's Conference. You transported me back to Jerusalem as you spoke to the point that I felt I was there! I could see the streets, smell the smells, see the sights, and hear what was going on. I am going through a particularly rough time in my life at the moment. The opposition has me pressed in on every side possible. I am hemmed in. Closed in. I am literally locked in my room. The enemy thinks he can use my family against me. He is wrong. The Lord made sure I studied His Word and hid it in my heart. It bubbles up in me like springs of living water refreshing and restoring my weary soul. I put on my armor and ready for battle this early morning for the war is great. Get behind me you old devil, the battle is already won! Jesus, my Lord and Savior died for me and paid a mighty price for it and I am so grateful. Janet Orcutt
Thank you for this beautiful reflection on the prophets and staying the course. I have put aside a book of my heart many times because it has felt too hard, but it simply will not go away. I take this as a prompt to be faithful to the work God has entrusted to me.
ReplyDeletePerfect timing- God's timing- for this encouragement. I am over halfway through a year long memoir writing project and under various opposition that tempts me to quit. I am praying daily for perseverance to keep going one step at a time! Thank you for writing this
ReplyDeleteI love how we can get inspiration from the Bible for every aspect or our lives. Thanks for sharing the determination of these men. We have no reason to complain about our hindrances!
ReplyDeleteI really needed to hear this. Five years into a novel now. Life happens, but I’m still plugging away. Thanks for fanning the flame.
ReplyDeleteYour message is so encouraging, Eva. I needed this today. Thank you.
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