April 25, 2023 - Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah saw the wall completed and named the various officials around Jerusalem. Furthermore, with the city safer and better organized, Nehemiah “found the book of the genealogy,” which named “the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town” (7:6). Lots of hard work had been done. Many obstacles and difficulties had been overcome.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” Anyone recall James’ counsel? “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). I think the great hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, helps us, also:

Never be sad or desponding,

If thou hast faith to believe;

Grace, for the duties before thee,

Ask of thy God and receive.

Never give up, never give up,

Never give up to thy sorrows,

Jesus will bid them depart;

Trust in the Lord,

Trust in the Lord,

Sing when your trials are greatest,

Trust in the Lord and take heart. -- Fanny Crosby (1903)