assignment

Time to Stand!

Published on June 13, 2026June 12, 2026 by amylinnea1 Comment

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14

Do you have those people in your life, too?

People who taunt you while working God’s plan? Those who belittle your faith in God? People who think they know what you should do, yet are themselves far from God?

Nehemiah was sent by God to orchestrate the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s outer walls.

Obviously, there were those who disagreed. Their enemies.

So, Nehemiah and his men worked with a stone in one hand and a sword in the other.

“From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail….Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other” (4:16-17).

Nehemiah led the people to fulfill the work of the Lord even though.

Nehemiah led the people to walk in God’s promise even though.

Nehemiah led the people to finish what God wanted them to do even though.

Even though there were enemies.

Even though there was real danger.

Even though it had never been done before.

How did Nehemiah so wildly succeed? Because he held onto God’s promise. Nehemiah 2:8 says, “for the good hand of my God was upon me.”

Nehemiah knew God would be with him as he stepped out in faith to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. And he didn’t let one enemy get into his head.

He didn’t walk in his own strength. He continually asked God for protection.

He didn’t walk in his own knowledge. He continually asked God for wisdom.

He didn’t walk in his own pride. He humbly submitted everything to God.

What is God asking you to do? What are you cowering in fear of because you are focusing only on your strength? What’s that one thing you keep resisting, because you haven’t yet seen God’s strength over you instead?

Not talking about living for yourself. We’re talking God assignments.

That’s what Nehemiah had. A God assignment to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Rebuilding what God calls you to do takes grit, faith, and stamina. All coming from God. And you’ll have the enemy, too, reminding you of your past failures, inadequacies, and weakness.

So arm yourself with the promises of God. Arm yourself with the protection of God. Arm yourself with the truth of God.

And start rebuilding whatever God has asked of you. From little cracks of unforgiveness to big holes of bitterness, walk in God’s identity for you, standing up to the enemy with your sword. It’s time!

Photos by Kristen Sturdivant, Vigmund Djupang, Gioele Fazzeri, & Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Loving the Unloveable

Published on January 17, 2026January 17, 2026 by amylinneaLeave a comment

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

Anyone in your life unloveable? Anyone fit that description?

Family? Acquaintances? Coworkers?

Children come to mind.

At times they seem unloveable when demanding things their way.

When irritated, they can spew forth ugliness, wishing you’d disappear.

Fine. I’ll go.

But that’s not biblical. Not God’s way.

He wants you to stay, loving the unloveable.

Can you even imagine a harder assignment?

Not me. Goes against my every fiber.

We usually love others because we get things in return.

Love, acceptance, respect, you get the idea.

But loving the unloveable? Yikes, that’s a whole new arena.

Yet that’s what God calls us to do. Literally. We are called to love others, no matter the response.

Jesus is our example. He loved us without reserve.

Without compromise. Without question.

And He loves us still when we revert back to our sinful selves, choosing our flesh too many times to count.

In other words, when we, ourselves, are unloveable, God still loves us.

If you’re willing, partner with God. His power through us can begin our attempt to love those who distain us.

God’s love. Not yours.

At the end of the day, God will be glorified if you love even when others don’t deserve it.

Even if they roll their eyes, talk back, or wish upon your disappearance.

Ask God to fill you with Himself each day as you wear His identity for you.

Only then, will you fulfill His greatest commission: To love your neighbor as yourself.

May we witness God through our daily human reactions. And may God Himself be manifest through our human attempts at love as we place others before ourselves.