Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
We are a people always in a hurry. We like fast food. We like fast internet. We want what we want, and we want it quickly. God does often does not move at our pace. It is more common that God works on agricultural time. He prepares the soil. Then He plants the seed. Then He waters the soil with the seed in it. Then He waits for a season, watching for anything that might hamper the growth of the seed. God makes that seed to grow and fulfill its destiny.
As a leader we must learn how to live on agricultural time. Nehemiah had to prepare the soil. He did this primarily through prayer. This was consistent and deliberate. Spiritual leaders must learn the joy of tarrying in prayer. Seek God. Seek His righteousness. Ask Him for what you want. Wait. Nehemiah also continued to do his job. Sure internally he as sad and discouraged. It happens to the best of us. But each day he got up and went to work. He did his job with passion and energy. Each day he monitored the emotions of the king and likely noticed patterns. By noticing the patterns Nehemiah was able to meet the king’s needs maybe even before the king realized that he had a need. Doing a good job was also preparing the soil. Nehemiah then spent a great deal of time thinking about what he would need to rebuild the walls if he was given the opportunity. His visioning and dreaming were creating a strong mind. The soil was carefully being prepared.
Another young Israelite who also dealt with a similar type of court, Esther, also prepared the ground with fasting, prayer and service. Too often leaders are in too much of a hurry and often we fail as a result. Prepare the soil.
When the soil was ready, Nehemiah planted the seed. He told the king what he wanted and when asked was prepared to tell the king what he needed to pull it off. Anything could have happened at that point. It is even possible that Nehemiah could have been executed for requesting an extended leave.
Once Nehemiah went he watered the ground by diligently working to accomplish the mission. Through hard work Nehemiah was allowed to go back to Jerusalem and deal with problems that had surfaced. This was the result of watering the ground.
My friends, God’s timing is different. His ways are not our ways. Patiently endure and see God come through for you.
