Discouragement

[ClimbingRose, 2012, JAVanDevender]

Note - this is not a Cherokee rose.

Nehemiah 4:9–10 (NASB95)

Discouragement Overcome

9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.

10 Thus in Judah it was said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.”

Early on in my life, when I was stationed at my very first fleet squadron, we lived in Jacksonville, Fl. It was a time of firsts. We also had our first house, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath rancher that set us back a whopping $25k. We had our first son. It was an exciting time in many ways and one of my favorite periods of life. One thing I started doing was growing roses. I put in some raised beds to hold a layer of topsoil over the sandy stuff that comprised our lawn area. Only St. Augustine grass could grow on it and St. Augustine grass could grow in a desert. There was one rose however, a Cherokee climbing rose, that did in fact prosper in sand and I planted it at the corner of the house. That rose grew like crazy. Nothing could seemingly kill it. When it threatened to take over the entire wall I whacked it unmercifully. It didn't care. Rain, drought, blazing heat, icy winters... it simply did not care. It might be discouraged for a while but after some time it came back stronger than ever. And the blooms!!!! That vine was gorgeous in full bloom (not so much when they wilted). But nothing, apparently, could stop it from doing what God put it on this earth to do, put out flowers for the world to see.

Our life can be like that also. It certainly was like that with Nehemiah (see quote above). Everything and everyone seemed to be conspiring against him. It was very discouraging. But he prayed and somehow found the strength to go on.

Sometimes the idea that we are to grow and prosper where we have been planted is a matter of some doubt in our mind. Sometimes it seems as if the entire environment that we face is conspiring against us. Sometimes we sense the pain and irritation of countless little life-sucking stings and attacks. Sometimes we don't seem to get adequate nourishment, either physically or spiritually. Sometimes the effort it takes to bear fruit, to produce flowers, seems to be more than the value they contribute. Sometimes... sometimes... it is just plain discouraging.

However, we need to remember that it is exactly when God's glory is most evident. As I observed with some degree of humor the way that Gentle Ben (as we called the rose) seemed to come back from each "discouragement" stronger and more vital than ever, so, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit God points to us, as He did to Job, and calls on Satan and all the heavenly powers to look and see how amazing His work is. You see, this is the life that can only be explained in terms of God's absolute, sovereign, all empowering Spirit. His children face discouragement, wonder where they are ever are going to find the strength, fall on their face and confess that they just can't take it any more and that they are at the end of their rope, and then... miraculously... incredibly.. they get up, walk in His strength and not their own... and not only persevere Stoically but burst out in blooms of good works of eternal value. Someone, standing at a distance, is inspired... or encouraged... or confronted... or ..... and God is not only pleased, He is exalted above all measure.

When the going gets tough... the weak, worn out, wobbly, victorious people of God are able, not only to persevere, but ultimately to see the victory of God. Nehemiah built the wall God gave him to build. So will we.