Purpose Study Bible 356: With All Your Heart
The people began to work under Nehemiah's leadership, and they made tremendous progress. We are told why:
So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart (Nehemiah 4:6).
The people didn't approach their job halfheartedly, but put everything they had into it. Even then, however, they became tired and discouraged because of the size of the task:
Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall” (Nehemiah 4:10).
They worked with all their heart, but that didn't mean they never became tired or discouraged. There is a difference between being casual and being weary. Casualness says, “I'll get to it when I have time,” while weariness says, “I'm committed to this, but my strength is giving out.” The answer to casualness is greater commitment, but the answer to weariness may be rest, encouragement, help from others, or simply being reminded why the work matters.
Nehemiah didn't condemn the weary workers; he reorganized and encouraged them so they could continue. Wholehearted commitment doesn't mean you never get tired. It means you don't allow your tiredness to cause you to abandon the work God has given you.
God has given you an assignment, a place on His wall, so to speak, and you will fulfill the task with God's help as you "work with all your heart." You can't approach the things or work of God casually, like they're something you'll get around to when you have some free time. You can't treat your creative purpose like it's a hobby or optional, with the thinking that if you don't get it done, God will get someone else.
That's true, He may enlist the services of someone else, but they can't do the work the way you would do it. That's why you must prepare and work with urgency, as though your part of the wall depends on you—because it does.
Where are you being lackadaisical with the things God has given you to do, and where are you simply tired? Don't confuse the two. If you have been casual, where do you need to go “all in”? If you are weary, what do you need—rest, help, encouragement, or renewed perspective—so you can return to your place on the wall and continue?
We've heard it said that we should do what we can do and trust God to do what only He can do. You're in a work partnership with Him, and your responsibility is to work with all your heart. God and His plan for your life deserve nothing less.