Do the Work

1 Chronicles 28:9-10, 20, "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work. ...Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you..."

Young Solomon had to have had many fears and concerns about being chosen for such an enormous task. He had to take on a huge responsibility. A responsibility that would otherwise be the job of an older man, but because of his father's past, he was now responsible. Now it seemed that the weight of the world was upon his shoulders. But, in this dialogue we find the words of this warrior preparing his son for an enormous battle. "Be strong and do the work. ...Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you..."

How often we look out onto our own challenges and find that the task ahead of us seems impossible. We can look at others around us, and see them depending on us for financial security. We may wake in the morning and feel as though the weight of the world is upon our shoulders and that the task is too large for anyone. That is when we hear the words, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work." God is not calling us to sit back and do nothing while He does everything for us. He is calling us to do the work. Do the work that He has set in front of us and He will not forsake you, nor will He fail you. Do you know that when you have diligently sought after God and when you feel you are failing your family, it is not actually you that you feel has failed, but you feel it is God who is failing you.

Oswald Chambers, "There are times in our lives when our peace is based simply on our own ignorance. But when we are awakened to the realities of life, true inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus. When our Lord speaks peace, He creates peace, because the words that He speaks are always 'spirit, and they are life' (John 6:63). Have I ever received what Jesus speaks? '...My peace I give to you...'— a peace that comes from looking into His face and fully understanding and receiving His quiet contentment.

Are you severely troubled right now? Are you afraid and confused by the waves and the turbulence God sovereignly allows to enter your life? Have you left no stone of your faith unturned, yet still not found any well of peace, joy, or comfort? Does your life seem completely barren to you? Then look up and receive the quiet contentment of the Lord Jesus. Reflecting His peace is proof that you are right with God, because you are exhibiting the freedom to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. Allowing anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you either causes you to become troubled or gives you a false sense of security.

With regard to the problem that is pressing in on you right now, are you 'looking unto Jesus' (Hebrews 12:2) and receiving peace from Him? If so, He will be a gracious blessing of peace exhibited in and through you. But if you only try to worry your way out of the problem, you destroy His effectiveness in you, and you deserve whatever you get. We become troubled because we have not been taking Him into account. When a person confers with Jesus Christ, the confusion stops, because there is no confusion in Him. Lay everything out before Him, and when you are faced with difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, listen to Him say, 'Let not your heart be troubled...' (John 14:27)."

Do not doubt God. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not blame Him for your failings, but worship Him and get out there and do the work He has set in front of you. While you are working, be sure and check your heart and your motives and keep them pure before Him. For, He knows our inner most thoughts. "If you seek Him, He will be found by you; ...Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you..."