Skill and the Will

As I held my fresh, blue-eyed boy in my arms for the first time, I felt a herd of emotions. I felt happiness that he was here, disbelief at how precious he was, relief that labor and delivery was over, excitement to see him grow but also paralyzing fear for the task set before me and pressure to “do it right.”

​My son, perfectly knitted together, was given to me by God to care for, love and raise up. Yet, in an overwhelming wave of anxiety, 6lbs 4oz felt heavy. The details as to how my husband and I would raise this precious one felt impossible. 

In Exodus, the LORD met with Moses on the mountain and gave him plans for the construction of the tabernacle, a place where he would meet with his people. These plans included exact specifications for the size, artistic detail, materials and functional use. Beautiful materials would be used, including precious metals, acacia wood and fine linen of vivid colors.

​How would this beautiful tabernacle be raised and where would the materials come from?
 
God called Bezalel by name (Ex 31: 2 ESV)  and “filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills to make artistic designs…” (Ex 31: 3-4 NIV) to make the tabernacle. In the days of Egypt, when it was all Bezalel could do to put one foot in front of the other, God was forging in him the skills he needed for the day the Spirit of God would empower him to raise the tabernacle for His glory and the welfare of Israel. 
 
In Chapter 35, God commanded His people to bring supplies (that they took with them when they left Egypt), with generous hearts, and skills, with willing hands, to contribute to the construction of the tabernacle. God used their exodus from Egypt to provide for the materials used in the creation of an even greater blessing.
 
God is faithful to provide the skill and the will to complete the work He sets before us.
 
As I think about all the joyful, beautiful, scary, hard and hopeful times both you and I face as moms, I am encouraged by the good news that God does the same for us. If God was faithful to provide for the Israelites in the raising of the tabernacle, how much more will he provide for you in the raising of your children? You have been called by name to belong to God through Jesus, and he has given you his Spirit to empower you with the skill and the will to complete the work of loving, caring for and investing in those around you. 
 
Sister, because of Christ, you have everything you need to fulfill your God-given calling. Remember, he has given you his Spirit, he is with you, and he is using the trials of your daily life to forge in you everything you need for your sacred calling.

Memory Verse: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

About the Author

Hello, friend! My name is Tierney Nashleanas. I’m so glad you are here! I am a wife to my amazing husband, Trevor, a mama to our inspiring kiddos, Valor and Sylvie, and a health coach on the side. I enjoy experiencing the beauty of God in nature, getting my hands dirty in the garden, sitting by a glowy light to read a book and loading our family up in our 04’ Honda Odyssey we call, “The Adventure Van,” to see where the road takes us. I have a passion for creating words that encourage and inspire others to experience the love that God has for them in Christ.