How it ends

Ever been in the middle of something - a project, a problem and you can't see a way out? Of course, most of the time we work through it and get to the end. Afterwards we can look back and rejoice that it worked out well. Ever thought then that it would have been nice to know the outcome when you were in the middle of it all? How much peace we would have had, how much more confidence would we have had in the midst?

Some of you will be curious as to how the decorating turned out. Well, with the help of Catherine in the preparation and Roger in the paintng of the walls, I can now reveal that the project is complete and looks great! Thanks friends! To be honest, I wish I could have seen a photo of the finished job whilst we were picking millimetre size bits of paint off the doors - it would have encouraged me no end to know that soon there would be an end!

I've got lots of friends who are in the middle of some pretty difficult times. For some of you it feels like there is no way out;



Nehemiah was in such a crisis. The news he had received was devastating. As a senior court official he knew he had to hide his personal concerns to avoid them impacting the King. He couldn't. His job, his life, were on the line and he didn't care, the news was so bad. He went to look himself and realised everything everyone had said was true. It really was irredeemably bad. When he tried to claw his way out of the mess, individuals mocked him. When the project began to make some painfully slow progress, the number and strength of the opposition grew. Finally, even those who he might have expected to stand with him - family, friends, also turned against him.

Ever felt like Nehemiah? You've tried and tried but it seems to get harder not easier. The more you desperately seek to push through, the more it seems come and stand against you. Then comes the thing that defeats us so many times. The lack of support or even the outright opposition from those we love and trust.

What started out for Nehemiah as the opposition of one or two became armies ranged against him, whole people groups opposed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. What began as a seemingly impossible task  had become derided and opposed in the end by even his own people. By the end of chapter 5 it has got so bad that the next part begins "So, finally". And as you read it your heart sinks. The only conclusion possible is: "So finally, they gave up" or "So finally they decided to put the project on hold till a more favourable time".

But chapter 6 starts like this. Despite the opposition, despite the seeming impossibility.

"And so, the wall was finished".

You know what? He just keeps going. One brick after another. He takes practical steps to protect himself and the work, but he just keeps going. It hurts like hell. Read the story. But one brick after another, trusting God, he keeps going - until, despite how it looked, the wall was finished.

I want to shout out loud - 'I know how it ends! Christ in you wins! You share in an overwhelming victory! Your enemies get to watch the King of Kings treat you to a victory banquet! There comes a day when in the light of the unending glory and joy that you are experiencing, that you look back and declare "it was worth it".

I know how it ends, therefore rejoice and be at peace even in the midst of the darkness!'

Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.