It has been a very trying time in this house. There have been a number of issues that have to be worked out soon. However, I am tired. Oh so tired! Many of the tasks required to be done are just so very draining, and it is difficult to find the motivation to finish this tasks. As much as I want to just hide from these things, I can’t. Well, I can, as in I have the ability to, but I would have to face some harsh consequences. So I need to face them.
The difficulties we face in this world weaken us. They may weaken us in one or two areas of our lives, or they may weaken us all over. And we may weaken slowly almost imperceptibly, or we may weaken quickly as when everything hits us all at once. For me, right now, it is sort of in the middle of whatever scale this is. As we think about our list of tasks to complete, and as we feel the draining begin, let us remember Zechariah 10:6-9,12.
"I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD. I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before. Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return. ... I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name," declares the LORD. (ESV)
I am struck by God’s declaration of making His people strong in Him. “They shall walk in His name.” What I am taught by this portion of Scripture is that God has sent His people out into the nations to share His glory, His purpose for us, and ultimately His love.
In this beginning of this chapter (10), God is chastising the shepherds of His people (His flock of sheep). The leaders of the people are not strengthening the people with God’s words. They are abusing and misleading the people. They are conforming to the nations instead of conforming the nations to God. God was hot with anger towards the stewards of His people. So He declared that He was going to punish the leaders, and He Himself was going to take care of His people. He allowed specific people into a position of service to the people, and these people took advantage of that position in a selfish and self-serving way.
Now here we come to the good part that I learned. God gathers His people back from the nations where they are working, and He strengthens them. He cares for His people and gives them wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and healing. Then, He sends them back out to the nations to do the same. Over time, we weaken again, and God sees His people. He calls them back to strengthen them, and they are overjoyed and glad when they are brought back in. I suppose it is because they can relax and recover from all of the hardships and toil that they have been facing while in the nations.
We, too, can be overjoyed and glad as we gather together in God. We are strengthened by Him and each other when we come together to worship and serve Him. He shelters us and gives us so much grace. He teaches us and allows us into His work. This brings us even more joy.
When we are facing so much work and struggle, let us remember that He will gather us to Him and strengthen us before sending us into more of His fulfilling work. We will continue this cycle until Jesus returns to gather us one last time. That is when we will see the ultimate fruit of our labors along with all of the people we help lead to God. Oh what an amazing day that will be!
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 