Nehemiah 6-8
The Return Home

We did it!
 
“Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'" Nehemiah 8:10

It's not enough to embark on a noble task

Nehemiah and the people got the wall built and, against all odds they did it. Done! Completed! They celebrated. They had a party. “from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated (the scriptures) like this. And their joy was very great. (Nehemiah 8:17 )

Recently a mom of grown children told me in reference to having raised her children, “we did it”. A college student works hard on a paper and gets it done, having given it her best shot. A dad sends his son off into a new marriage thinking “I did it. I passed the baton as best I know how”. It is at those moments that we can sigh and say, “thank you Lord for giving me the right focus, the motivation, the sacrifice and love to have crossed the finish line”. It is then that we experience the “joy of the Lord”. 

In what area of life is calling you to “finish”. The finish line (for this life) is the day you die, which means you’re not yet there. As long as you have breath you are not done yet. The joy comes in (however imperfectly) “finishing". 

Prayer

“Lord, there is unfinished business in my life. Show me what it is from your perspective. And then lead me to get (back) in the race that you put you put and with your help Lord, I choose to finish.   Amen”