Nehemiah 4
The Return Home

Have you ever been insulted and ridiculed publicly for acting on your faith?
 
“When Sanballat (a local province leader whose power was being threatened by the returnees from Persia) heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became . . incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, 'What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned as they are?' " Nehemiah 4:1-2

Are you more prone to discouragement or to being motivated?

As you read the remainder of Chapter 4 you will see that opposition caused Nehemiah to redouble his efforts and those of his people. But he didn’t do so simply through words and pep talks.

First, he set the example. People follow people who are following the Lord no matter the cost. Second he organized. Some are good at some things and not others. If each person, even one prone to discouragement, can be given a task that’s doable and confined, even the most weak kneed among us can find his way to stand and take courage. Third, he was practical. Although he prayed and trusted God, he also set up a line of armored defense against his enemy. In a fallen, broken world, there appear to be times when God allows us to display material strength so that violence is deterred (although this one is indeed debatable).

Prayer

“Father, forgive me for the times I let opposition get the best of me. Please put me around motivators when I am weak and give me the gift of encouragement when others are weak. Amen”