We moved back to Cheyenne in April. We purchased a house, but it was in pretty rough shape. Consequently, most week days can find us (well, Karl mostly!) ripping out walls or pounding on something in an effort to update and remodel this structure into a home. It’s not an simple challenge, and after being at it well over a month now, it’s easy to be tired and weary. Last week during my devotions, I came across a conversation between a father and son in chapter 28 of First Chronicles that caught my attention. David is the King and he really wants to built the temple in Jerusalem, but God has told him no. God’s plan is for David to leave that huge project for his son. Now David is obedient to God, and he doesn’t begin building, but he does amass truck loads of supplies. He gathers gold and silver, he hires specialized workmen. He even has plans drawn up and approved by the city building department (okay, I stretched that part, but David does have plans drawn…) He doesn’t build the temple, but he gets everything ready so that Solomon can.
Maybe David was trying to micromanage the building project without actually building it, and he sits Solomon down to offer some advice : “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged,”
I’m thinking that’s pretty sound advice. Holding on to strength, being brave when things go awry, not letting yourself get tired and disheartened, those are real hurdles to conquer in a project, I know, we’re both totally there some days. But the most significant part of this particular advice from David is that middle phrase. Do the work. Sure, planning ahead, perseverance, and not giving up are essential, but actually doing something is the key to accomplishing anything. In order to succeed we have to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty (and our muscles tired!). That, though, is so daunting and scary – so much can go wrong. That’s where the next half of David’s advice comes in: “for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”
What a relief! When I’m doing what God calls me to do, even if I make mistakes, God won’t leave me hanging. As long as my eyes are on Him, He is powerful enough and loving enough to find a way to honor my work and also make sure that the end result is according to His will. Knowing that, keeping it close all the time, gives me the strength and courage to actually do the work. Karl and I aren’t building a temple, just remodeling a little old house, but we’ve felt all along that this is where God has led us. Okay then. Gotta go!
