Scripture:

“We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work. When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well—that the breaks in the wall were being fixed—they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could. We countered with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against them.

But soon word was going around in Judah,’The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We’re in over our heads, we can’t build this wall.’

And all this time our enemies were saying, ‘They won’t know what hit them. Before they know it we’ll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!’ The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, ‘They have us surrounded; they’re going to attack!’ If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.

So I stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their swords, lances, and bows. After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.’ Our enemies learned that we knew all about their plan and that God had frustrated it. And we went back to the wall and went to work.” Nehemiah 4:6-15 (MSG)

Perspective:

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to help the people rebuild the wall surrounding the city. As a result of fasting and praying, Nehemiah had great favor with the King of Persia, who provided resources for the project. He gathered the people in Jerusalem to participate in rebuilding the wall. However, opposition came, discouragement clouded their perspective, and fear overtook the people’s hearts. As the massive task of rebuilding the wall was still before them, the people came to a point where they were overwhelmed and wanted to quit. All the people who were rebuilding the wall were not skilled carpenters. They were people still living in the area, but Nehemiah knew that to complete the project everyone would need to participate. Many of the people had different skill sets, and the words of discouragement started by their enemies began to take root more quickly in their minds. They looked at their abilities, the negative words from their enemies, and started to decide that they just couldn’t do it. In the meantime, God was the one who had given provision for the project; He was the one who would enable them to complete it. It was through prayer that the victory would come to pass. When the people wanted to quit, Nehemiah implemented a plan to protect the people and gave them words of encouragement. All the while, God was working behind the scenes to frustrate the plans of their enemies. As the people partnered with God in the work He had called them to do, God did what they couldn’t do.

 

Walking in obedience to God’s call is not always easy. Like the people rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, we can become overwhelmed by the task. God might have even provided direction and resources to accomplish His purposes through your life, but it can be difficult to keep moving forward as you become discouraged, overwhelmed, and want to quit. Maybe you are in a situation right now where you are throwing your hands up saying, “God, I quit; it’s just to much.” You might feel outnumbered and opposed at every turn. Yet, one way we can counter the discouragement is through prayer. As we look to God, He is able to strengthen our hearts and resolve, while working in the situations that are outside of our control. God did not bring you to this point in fulfilling His call in your life to abandon you. The task might seem great, but He is greater. When we look to Him instead of the mountain we are climbing in our lives, we can walk in confidence that God is fighting for us and will bring the victory. When words of discouragement try to derail you, remember to just keep building.

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer

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