Keep Going Anyway

 Have you ever felt like you were working towards a goal or vision you had, but it seemed like no or very little progress was being made? Perhaps, you were making progress, but it seemed like obstacles and people kept trying to get in the way. Maybe, it wasn't even the people or obstacles, but it was your own thoughts that you had doubting you could accomplish the goal. I can relate to all of the above! In the midst of all of the things mentioned, I am learning to push through the things that try to come up against me. I am learning to overcome them daily. It's not easy all the time, but I can keep going anyway 🙏. In fact, I was recently encouraged in my morning devotional time to persevere and keep going by a story in the Bible. Now, I had read the story several times before, yet that particular morning, the Scriptures hit different 💖! Can anybody relate?!! The story I'm referring to is found in the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. It's in that book that we find Nehemiah, who was a cupbearer to the king. In Chapters 1-2 of Nehemiah, we see that Nehemiah received sad news that the city walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed. Jerusalem was where Nehemiah's ancestors were from. Nehemiah was moved to take action as he wanted to help his people in some way 💖. I love his heart! So, he got permission from the king to go to Jerusalem to help rebuild the wall. With the king's permission, Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem to help with this vision. We see in Nehemiah 2:12 that God had laid on his heart to do it. After sharing this with a few men, "they said, "Let's start rebuilding," and their hands were strengthened to do this good work (Nehemiah 2:18)." Now, we can maybe relate to what happened next with Nehemiah. He was mocked and despised by the officials (leaders) in verse 19 of that chapter. In spite of the comments, Nehemiah and the workers began work on rebuilding the wall. Isn't it amazing how people will try to cut you down and talk bad about you before you even start something?! That's a whole other message for another day! When the officials heard about their work on the wall, they got mad and start asking more questions, such as "Can they restore it by themselves?" and "Will they ever finish it?" (Nehemiah 4:1-2). People will try to ask all kinds of questions and doubt your progress. I'm learning I can't control what other people say and do, but I can control what I say and do, so I should not be the one to doubt myself (guilty of this though!). Here's the verse that blessed me that one morning: "So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working." (Nehemiah 4:6). Whew! They kept going in spite of the naysayers 👏. They could have stopped work on the wall, but they didn't. At one point in Nehemiah 4, Nehemiah encouraged the people working to not be afraid of them and remember God is great (v. 14). That's great advice! Since life can get discouraging and people don't always want to support you, it's good encouragement to hold on to. We also have to encourage ourselves, which I am learning to do💖.

 The people kept working together, which I love to see! Nehemiah 6:15 tells us the great news as a result of them persevering. The verse says, "The wall was completed in fifty-two days." The mission was accomplished! God helped them and the wall was rebuilt. Nehemiah knew all along the wall would be rebuilt. He says in Nehemiah 2:20 that, "The God of the heavens is the one who will grant us success." He stated this before the wall was rebuilt. He gave praise to God and walked by faith, which should also be encouraging to us. We can declare God will be with us and grant us success when we know it's something God wants us to do. So, today, I don't know what may need rebuilding in your life or even be built for the first time, but I do know this: God is with you. God is for you. God will help you. God believes in you. God will send who and what you need to complete the goal or vision💕. People will have something to say about you, whether you're doing good or bad. Do your best to ignore the naysayers or wrong thoughts in your own mind. Is it easy? Definitely not, but it's possible. I'm a living witness! I've had a lot of naysayers and discouragement (from others and my thoughts) come my way in my life journey, but I've had to keep going anyway. I remember who I am and that the negative and doubtful words should not have the final say in my life. God's Word should have the final say 👏. Let people talk and keep asking all the questions. Just make sure you keep moving in the purpose and direction God has for you. It may take days, months, or years to accomplish a goal or vision, but keep going anyway💕. Let Nehemiah's story be an encouragement to you. Keep dreaming anyway. Keep dancing anyway. Keep laughing anyway. Keep singing anyway. Keep creating anyway. Keep speaking good anyway. Keep practicing anyway. Keep studying anyway. Keep setting healthy boundaries anyway. Keep enjoying your life anyway. Keep posting encouragement anyway. Keep being you anyway. Rest, reset, and regroup as much as you need. Whatever you do, keep going anyway 💕! May God continue to bless you all and love you all!!!