Being Faithful with Your Part of the Wall

It seems like I’ve told this story a hundred times in the last twenty-one years. Usually, it comes up in conversations with young mothers who are feeling not only tired and stretched thin, but also discouraged that much of their time is spent doing the mundane. As you’ll see, the moral of the story doesn’t only apply to them. All believers—male or female, young or old—at some point will find themselves in a season of the mundane, or at least in a season of noticing how mundane life truly is.

It was the winter of 2004 in Louisville, Kentucky. I had given birth to premature twins in mid-December. They had been longed for and prayed for, and the Lord had graciously provided. We already had a five-year-old boy who I was homeschooling, and once the twins came home from the neonatal intensive care, my days were spent feeding babies, changing nappies, and trying to keep our active five-year-old occupied. A lot of snow had fallen that year, and because of the cold weather and concern for the twins’ health, the doctor recommended staying indoors for several weeks.

At the time, we were members of an inner-city church. It was wonderful, with faithful preaching, intentional fellowship, and a large gospel heart for the community. The church body was on a mission to share Christ with that neighbourhood—in the park, on front doorsteps, on street corners, in abandoned houses—wherever they saw a need. 

Many of the physical and financial needs in the community were extreme and obvious, and as they were being met, the greater spiritual needs were being met as well. One of my closest friends at church lived in the neighbourhood, and a few months before my twins were born her family had taken in a local prostitute and her newborn to help them get off the streets. This type of ministry wasn’t unusual for the members of that church.

Finally, the week came when the babies and I were able to leave the house. On Sunday morning, my husband and I bundled up the kids and drove to church. It was my first time there in weeks, and once we arrived, we made our way to an adult Sunday school class taught by the pastor. The series was called “Every Member Mercy,” and that morning the pastor was exhorting us all to be ministry-minded. To show mercy as Christ showed mercy. To sacrifice for others, so that they might know the love of God and the power of his gospel.

I felt so sad. In my mind, I couldn’t do those things anymore. I’m at home with babies and a five-year-old. I can’t serve God like others in our church. I’m not making a difference.

As the tears started to come, I raised my hand and asked, “Pastor Ryan, I hear what you’re saying. And I want to live like that—I really do—but with these babies, I can’t. What do you have to say to someone like me?”  

I’ll never forget the look of compassion on my pastor’s face and the words he spoke as he looked me straight in the eye. He said, “Cheryl, you are building God’s kingdom right where you are.” 

At that moment, the Lord was gently teaching me that my labours were not inferior, just different—and oh, so valuable.

Friend, I trust that you want to serve God. That you want to honour him and make a difference for his kingdom. But maybe you’re in a season of life wishing you could do something “more,” and discouragement has settled in. 

I understand how it feels to be in that place. But now, twenty-one years later, this is my encouragement to you: God not only knows your limitations, but he’s also ordained them for his good purposes. The limitations we have are not obstacles to serving the Lord. They are the very opportunities in which we are to serve him. 

Like the Israelites who were assigned the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day (Nehemiah 3-4), each of us has been entrusted by God with our own part of the wall, or kingdom, to build. And there we must press on. Do you have small children at home? Are you sick in bed? Are you in a dead-end job? Do you feel restricted by your bank account, your family situation, or even your ministry at church? Can you see that this is the place where God wants to put his glory—his power, grace, righteousness, and truth—on display through you? In his wisdom and love, this is your assignment. 

God has placed you exactly where you are, to accomplish the good works he’s prepared uniquely for you (Ephesians 2:10). So, trust him. Obey him. Thank him. Serve and speak well of him. And in that, God will be glorified and will build his kingdom, in the ways he knows are best. Be faithful with your part of the wall.