Throughout the book of Nehemiah, the builders prayed for God’s protection – but they also carried spears and carried spears and designed contingency plans in case of attack. They didn’t wait idly by for God’s answer. We can learn something from their approach.
We were created to live in unison with God. We are at our best when we cooperate with Him. As one individual recalls, “I had wrestled for weeks with an engineering problem and was unable to come up with a workable solution. Finally, a friend of mine suggested that I pray and ask God to give me an answer. I did, and within thirty minutes, it came to me. I had the solution. So, I have decided that God and I make a pretty good team.
God is committed to caring for His children. This does not mean we should sit back and expect God to do everything. There is an old German proverb that says, “God gives the birds their food, but He does not throw it into their nests.” We are to use the mind and body He has given us, but we are to do it in cooperation with Him, looking to Him for wisdom so that we can complete what He desires us to accomplish in life.
Take some time to pray individually or as a couple. Thank God for His commitment to caring for you. Ask Him to help you know how much to do on your own and how much to rely on Him when you face a challenging situation.
When you take time to discuss or reflect on these questions:
When are you most tempted to tackle a problem on your own?
When are you most likely to include your spouse in the process?
When are you most willing to include God in the process?
Consider these passages for further study on Trusting God:
2 Samuel 7:28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
Nehemiah 4:21-23 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time, I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.[a]
When we feel weak, we lean on the Lord and trust Him more. Do we agree? Thanks to Gary Chapman for sharing these thoughts that force us to challenge our trust and commitment to the Lord. Look to the Lord for wisdom when you need Him most.
Alecia Stringer’s Devotionals 