Victory At The Top
There may be no other element stronger than discouragement that can defeat us and rob us of victory in our quest to reach a needed goal. All of us have experienced discouragement at some point. It was at the point of 200 feet from the top of Pikes Peak that I hit my deepest discouragement. As I looked up, all I could see was 200 feet straight up over large jagged rocks. My mountain had caved in on top of me.
As we close our study on Nehemiah, we see where the people have let the walls around Jerusalem emotionally cave in on their dream. They have lost their strength, their vision, their confidence, and now the very thing they depended on for security. But Nehemiah does not give up. He takes the steps great leaders take in overcoming the deepest of discouragement.
In verse 13 of chapter 4, we learn that evidently the people building the wall had been separated from their families during the construction process. Nehemiah takes the step to station the people around the wall in groups of families. We all know what it can be like when we are separated from family and love ones and how that reunion can bring new enthusiasm. The importance of too much work and too little time with family is illustrated as a main concern in any situation by the fact that Nehemiah placed this as his first step to rebuild the encouragement of the people. As I was making my climb to the top of Pikes Peak, I found great encouragement in the times we would gather together to rest. There seemed to be strength in the unity of us together. As the climb got higher, I noticed that we tended to walk together more as a group.
Nehemiah then reminds the people that God is with them. Verse 14 states; "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes." As I continued my climb, there were many times I remembered God and went to Him for strength and protection. At times, I would sing quietly of songs praising God and worshiping with Him. It was those times that gave me renewed determination to continue the fight up that mountain.
Verses 15-17 demonstrates a great principle. Not only do we have to depend on God, but we also have to take action of our own. Nehemiah was able to lead the people to exercise their faith and their muscle. We can expect God to do His part, and He expects us to do our part. It was at that point in reaching the last 200 yards, discouragement engulfing me, when a couple came over to me with those famous words - "Jack you can do this." With strength I did not have, I renewed my determination and commitment to reach the top and take my stand on top of Pikes Peak. If God would take me by the hand and lead me, I would do my part even if I had to crawl up that mountain.
Nehemiah has set the course. He has taken all the steps to overcome the discouragement of the people. But there was one more step to take. In verse 20 he states; "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us." Great leaders are able to establish a rallying point for their cause. It is a time when we all come together united in our commitment to reach our goal. It is a reason to fight on, a glimpse of a reward to come, and a purpose in our cause.
As I stood at the bottom of those rocks with renewed determination, I took one more look to the top of the mountain. This time it was different. In the faraway distance I spotted my rallying point. There at the top of the mountain waving down to me was Jeanie, my wife, my best friend, my buddy, my lover of 48 years. She had driven up the mountain to pick us up. The sight of her filled me with uncontrollable emotions. I gathered myself and began the climb over those rocks, one rock at a time. At times I had to revert to actually crawling on my hands and feet praying that God would do His part. At about fifty yards from the top, I looked to my side and I saw a hand reaching out to me. Too tired and lacking oxygen to see who it was, I reached out and grabbed the hand. Together, hand in hand, we walked to the top of Pikes Peak. I knew it was a friend along with us, and later my son-in-law who reached for my other hand. But to me it was the hands of God doing His part.
"So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God." Nehemiah 6: 15-16
