We grow tired of work and working. We get tired and bored of being at work. We get tired of being in school of doing home work and preparing for those weekly tests. We get tired of the monotonous job of doing house; of dusting, vacuuming and cleaning up. And we get sick and tired of being sick and tired. In our fatigue, we have a choice - give in to the exhaustion and quit - or dig in and keep going. We have a choice.
Noah had a choice - sort of. At age 500 GOD asked him to build an ark. Build at boat the Lord told him - not just any boat, a huge ship. So in the desert, Noah and his family began building the boat. Year round they worked together building the boat. For about 100 years they worked on building that ark. I'm sure, during all those years, they must have gotten tired of building that boat. I'm sure there were days when Noah said, "I quit - I've had enough!" But his family encouraged him to press on. And I'm sure his family must have felt like quiting also. And when they got tired of the project, when they felt like giving up, Noah was there encouraging them to continue. And give up they didn't. An impossible task, building a massive ship in the desert was successfully accomplished despite the many obstacles that got in their way.
There were probably times when Nehemiah was tired and fed up with the project and felt like giving up. Jerusalem had been conquered. The walled city had been penetrated. The walls, the massive defense system for the city was destroyed. Now, walking around the rubbled walls Nehemiah had a plan to rebuild the city's walls. And the plan succeeded. In 58 days the city walls were rebuilt! But during those days he ran into severe opposition. Nehemiah faced opposition from outside and in the city. The opposition was fierce. It would have been easy to give in to the critics, the nah sayers, the resistance. But he didn't give in when he was tired - he kept going and in less than 2 months time, something that was seen as being impossible was made possible and the glorious city walls were rebuilt.
During the days of Isaiah, the people Israel felt tired. They felt beaten down and discouraged. Weary, they were giving up; on life, on work, on GOD. Then Isaiah reminded them that GOD loved them. He reminded them that GOD gives strength to the weary. GOD increases power to the weak. Isaiah said, "GOD gives strength to the weary, and increases power to the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah encouraged the people, reminding them that GOD will truly give new strength and power to those who seek it. DO you need a little extra strength to get you through the day? Do you need added power to finish a difficult task? Do you need new strength to conquer the obstacles in your path to success?
Ernest Malinowski faced a challenge - build the highest railroad in the world. Many people tried building the railroad through the Andes Mountains of Peru. And all failed. Then the 60 year old Polish engineer, Ernest Malinowski was consulted. He examined the project and the obstacles and assured the representatives that the job could be done. When Malinowski turned 70 years old, he began overseeing the building of the highest railroad in the world.
The railroad wound its way through the Andes, through 62 tunnels and across 30 bridges. One tunnel was 4,000 feet long and 15,000 feet above sea level (Denver is about 5,000'). Beside the obvious construction difficulties one would have experienced building some thing this massive at these altitudes during the late 1800's Malinowski faced other obstacles, such as revolutions which held up construction twice. One time Malinowski had to flee the country for his own safety. So many obstacles. So many times he could have said, "I quit." So many days he could have said, "I'm tired" and given up on the project. After all he was in his 70's. But he didn't. In spite of all the obstacles, the feat was accomplished and is today considered one of the great engineering marvels of the world. Obstacles are meant to be hurdled over because GOD is giving us the strength to conquer and succeed.
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