“‘Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.’”
-Ezra 10:4
The Israelites vowed to be with Ezra…and for Ezra, it was time to get up and DO.
Sometimes life is risky, uncomfortable, surprising, wearisome, unclear, heavy, confusing, stressful, or emotional. And it’s easy to overlook what other people are going through when you’re going through things yourself. It seems to be too much work to involve yourself too deeply in the lives of others. You don’t have enough time to get what YOU need to get done, let alone helping someone else. There is an emotional demand in partnering with the life of someone else.
But it’s time to stop overlooking. It’s time to be with someone.
Be with them in their struggles. Be with them in their victories. Be with them in their questions and their answers. We are called to love one another in humility…and humility is thinking less of yourself and making much of others. You can’t solve the problem for them, but you can encourage them to arise, and to have courage, and to act. You don’t have to put your life on hold and ignore everything that’s happening on your end of things. But if you lead by example in being with someone and encouraging them to do what only they can do, not only will you bless their lives with the kindness and faithfulness of Christ, you’ll have at least one person who knows exactly what to do when you need someone with you!
Sometimes life is difficult, overwhelming, dangerous, scary, fast, exhausting, relentless, uncertain, or unexpected. And it’s easy to come up with excuses for not doing what you know needs to be done. There are some things that have been on your to-do list for weeks. There are some things you’ve been doubting for no real, good reason. There are some things that God has been burdening you with that you’ve been trying to ignore.
But it’s time to stop making excuses. It’s time to get up and DO.
Do what you know you should have done awhile ago. Do what has been keeping you up at night. Do what you are called to do, even if no one else is doing it. No one can live your life for you. What is on your heart is your responsibility. You don’t have to do it alone—the Lord is faithful to those who are zealous for His will—but you do have to do it. Our God is a God of victory, and of hope, and of provision, and of redemption. We have NO REASON to not go ALL OUT for HIS GLORY.
