Being in a leadership position within the church does not necessarily mean that brother or sister-in-Christ is the best one for the job. He or she may only be there becasue no-one else would do it. This person was willing but may not have had the burden for leading God's people in that particular setting.
A 'burden' for such a calling will sustain the brother or sister through thick and thin; through times of discouragement when the followers won't follow; or when one issue or another presents itself. Was your burden from the Lord? Tough question to ask yourself.
Nehemiah of the Old Testament had a burden for going to Jerusalem to rebuild that most important wall of protection and accountability. It would be nigh impossible to get vacation time to go and do it though. He was cupbearer to the king - a very important position and the king trusted and counted on Nehemiah doing that job to perfection. Anyway, he was a cupbearer - what would he know about construction?
We've heard the saying, "God helps those who help themselves" but Stephen Armstrong says that's all wrong. It should say, "God helps those who cannot help themselves".
It was certainly the case for Nehemiah and he knew it That's why he mourned, prayed and fasted. He did so for four months - 120 days! Such patience (Nehemiah 1:1-5)!
King Artexerxes noticed something though. Nehemiah looked sad in his presence and remarked,
"Why does your face look so sad..." (Nehemiah 2:2)?
Nehemiah was terrified. This was an offense worthy of death. One was not supposed to be sad in the king's court.
All those months of patiently waiting for the Lord's timing though were not wasted. Yet Nehemiah sends a quick SOS up to God before he answers the king and then speaks, likely with pounding heart. He was prepared with his list of what he wanted and needed. His 4 month waiting period had been well spent.
"It pleased the king to send me..." said Nehemiah (2:6).
Phew! What a relief!
The point is though, that God was raising up a leader for the returned exiles in Jerusalem. A leader with a burden, a leader who was patient in prayer. Not one day sooner to jump the gun. No, Nehemiah awaited God's timing and God must have supernaturally given King Artaxerxes the discernment to see Nehemiah's saddness. (Why did it take four months? Nehemiah must have kept himself cheerful all along in the King's presence but the burden was showing.)
God's word doesn't mention anything about Nehemiah's qualifications to wall building. No. God wanted other things and we can see that He often used men and women that people in general, felt they were most unqualified for doing the task. Think of the motley crew of disciples Jesus chose. Many were uneducated fishermen who became apostles! Mary Magdalene became the first person to see and talk to the risen Savior and to bear the message, "Jesus is alive!" to the dsciples. The rough and ruddy David the shepherd boy became king over all Israel. Murderer Moses led the chldren of Israel 40 years though a wilderness to the border of the Promised Land.
No doubt you all can think of others who came into unexpected roles of leadership surprizing even themselves. Perhaps you are one God has raised up, like Queen Esther, for "such a time as this".
Do you have a burden for some mission even though you may not feel qualified? I don't think Nehemiah expected he'd get to go but he wanted to go; he had the burden for it even though he likely hadn't built anything before. He sought God's will about it. Pray. Pray. Mourn and fast. Wait patiently as did Nehemiah. Expect the unexpected because "God helps those who cannot help themselves".
~ERC February 2022~
Based on Ezra 9; Nehemiah 1-2.
Inspired by Talk 5 - Burden of a Leader by Stephen Armstrong, Verse by Verse ministry - Restoring God's Word Series.
Sing, In His Time, along with the Maranatha singers.
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