No Task Too Small (written summer 2003 by Jack Jackson)

This week has been a trying one, yet God is always faithful. I have learned that we need to always be listening for what God may be speaking to us, no matter how small the task seems, because it may be very important for us to hear and obey. There are times when God gives someone a task and expects them to stick to it. Nehemiah was told to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. Although he knew he had been called to build the wall, Chapter 4 of Ezra and Chapter 4 in Nehemiah tell of opposition that came regarding the wall rebuilding. Ultimately, God kept Nehemiah focused on his task, and strengthened him with wisdom along the way, and knowledge that he was hearing God's voice.

As many of you know, the Lord moved my family to California this summer. It seemed to go against all "human reasonable sense". There were many struggles and we went through discouragements and drought. I remember a verse our friend Ms. Doris Weaver gave me before we had left.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the tear of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

We certainly have learned to put our trust in the Lord only. I know it is what got us through this hot dry summer, and I am not just talking about the weather. God provided and guided and He kept bearing fruit throughout.

Even with all that He did and showed me, and even though I felt I knew His purpose for me coming here, I was susceptible to doubt Tuesday about what God had placed on my heart.

Thank God Nehemiah had encouragers and defenders, as I do. It allowed him to stand steadfast in the face of doubters and opposition that planned to slow him down and keep him from completing the task God had for him.

When faced with a critical spirit this week, I began to doubt that God was speaking to me about a large task, especially when I have only been serving Him for nearly three years. He has placed on my heart a big vision for reaching out the lost. The doubt came when I was told I was too immature in the Lord and needed to tone down my zeal for the Lord and the lost, which I knew came from Him. Because this came from a seasoned Christian, I immediately knew I had to take it to the Lord in prayer. I asked Him to please work it all out and show me what He wanted me to do.

My answer came much faster than I expected, and from an e-mail from the same Ms. Doris Weaver. Ms. Doris Weaver is the Office Manager at Bel Forest Christian School in Bel Air, Maryland, and obedient women of God. She said that the Lord had put it on her heart to read Jeremiah while in church on Sunday. Tuesday, she had finally gotten around to it. She said she was in her cold house and she had crawled into her warm bed to read Jeremiah. As she read verse 1:6-8, she said the Lord asked her to get out of her warm bed, turn on the computer and write it down that verse without any other message and send it to me. The verse is as follows:

Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. Jeremiah 1:6-8

I opened that e-mailed verse that very evening. It was amazing to me how God used such a small task like writing a verse and sending it, to be the answer to fervent prayer. God responded with immediate confirmation that I am to keep "building that wall", and not be distracted. Praise God for His clear answer to prayer! Praise God for then opening up a door to help provide laborers for His harvest!

Remember to listen for the Lord and be obedient to His desires and tasks, no matter how small they seem. Do not get distracted, unless you know He has changed His mind, no matter who tries to slow you down. In closing, please remember the words of encouragement to Timothy from Paul:

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Trust In The Lord, and Obey!