Back in my youth pastor days, I was appointed as the Pointman for the Alliance Youth in northern Indiana. I was responsible for coordinating and collaborating with 12 Alliance churches to bring our youth groups together 3-4 times a year. We did summer camp with 100+ students. A New Year’s Eve Bash. Fun events where you could bring friends and share the gospel. Have you ever done something big and then looked back on it and thought what was I thinking?
One summer I partnered with another Alliance youth pastor in the area and we decided to do a senior high trip to Cedar Point – “the Roller Coast.” Between the two of us we had about 30 senior high students. We would have a lock in the night before with games and food and then get up the next morning and drive the 4 hours to Sandusky, OH, enjoy the roller coasters and drive home that night. As we began to put the plans together, we decided we could invite some of the other churches to join us. We figured a couple churches would take us up on it and the more the merrier. Right?
What were we thinking?
Apparently, everyone thought it was a genius idea and we had over 150 students, plus adults and suddenly our simple trip to Cedar Point seemed out of control. More Food. Bigger Games. Where are 150 kids going to sleep in the church – guys in the sanctuary – girls in the fellowship hall – drivers in the offices. Breakfast – oh yeah – we have to provide breakfast. Transportation?
Well, we did it. We had 25 vans in the caravan, everyone had a great time and we didn’t lose anybody.

But, What were we thinking?

We have been looking at Nehemiah on Sunday mornings and the task to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was daunting. By travailing in prayer, Nehemiah began to see the size of the task through the eyes of God and what seemed daunting to him, through the lens of prayer, seemed completely in the realm of possibility with God. (Nehemiah 1—2) I love the fact that even with the enormity of the task, because God was in it, it was completely doable. The end of chapter 2 and all of 3 is my favorite part. A big God can and wants to accomplish big things through ordinary people like you and me and Nehemiah. And once the people heard Nehemiah tell of God’s vision and provision, “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon my and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.”

What ARE you thinking?
Lives of people all around us resemble the condition of Jerusalem as Nehemiah found it. Our current reality of renewing a nation is intimidating. People are in distress. People are broken down. People are burned. People are angry. The task of evangelizing our little corner of the world is daunting. There are literally millions of people headed toward a Christless eternity and we walk, work, play, shop beside them every day. God has given us this task, or ministry, of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) Introducing people to Jesus. What was God thinking – leaving that job to us? There are days I am distressed, broken and burned… and angry!

But Nehemiah learned the incredible lesson that nothing is daunting to God. God can do it and still chooses to do it through each one of us. Remember Nehemiah had everyone work right in front of their house. That was his strategy. Renewal begins right where you live and breathe! For Nehemiah it started with prayer, was carried out through prayer, and resulted in prayer. Let me encourage you, nothing is impossible for God – and through prayer nothing is impossible for God and you. What daunting task is God calling you into? Where is God working and inviting you to join him? What part of the wall will you take responsibility for?

“The God of heaven will give us success.” Nehemiah 2:20