Overcoming Opposition with faith: Lessons from nehemiah 6:1-9

In the book of Nehemiah, we find a powerful story of perseverance, faith, and determination in the face of opposition. Nehemiah, a servant of God, was tasked with the monumental challenge of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed. Throughout his journey, Nehemiah faced numerous obstacles and opposition from those who sought to hinder his progress. In Nehemiah 6:1-9, we see how Nehemiah handled these challenges with unwavering faith and determination.

In the opening verses of this passage, we see that Nehemiah's enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, sought to distract him from his mission by inviting him to meet with them under false pretenses. They sent Nehemiah a message, deceitfully urging him to come to the plains of Ono for a meeting; however, they really planned on harming him. Fortunately, Nehemiah recognized their intentions and saw through their deceit.  He even responded to their requests for a meeting by saying that the work he was doing was so great and he could not stop to meet with them. Despite their persistent attempts to lure him away from his work, Nehemiah remained steadfast in his commitment to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

As Nehemiah continued his work of rebuilding the wall, his enemies resorted to spreading false rumors and accusations in an attempt to discredit him. They sent an open letter to Nehemiah which accused him of planning to rebel against the king of Persia. However, Nehemiah was not phased by their lies or accusations and remained resolute in his faith. He prayed to God for strength and wisdom, knowing that God would protect him and guide him through the challenges he faced.

Throughout Nehemiah's story, we can learn a valuable lesson of how to overcome opposition with faith, wisdom, and courage.  Instead of giving in to fear or doubt, Nehemiah trusted in God's guidance and remained focused on his mission. He understood that the work he was doing was of utmost importance and that he could not afford to be distracted by the schemes of his enemies.

Like Nehemiah, when we encounter obstacles in our own lives, whether they be external challenges or internal doubts, we can rely on God's guidance and protection as we navigate through difficult circumstances.

Nehemiah's story reminds us that through faith, perseverance, and reliance on God, we too can overcome any obstacles that stand in our way and find the strength to face our own challenges with courage and resilience. Just as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem against all odds, we too can overcome opposition and accomplish everything God has called us to do with His help.

Nehemiah 6:9 - They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

A Prayer For You:

Father, I thank you for the example in Nehemiah and I ask that you would give us the faith and persistence to keep building what you've called us to build without fear of the threats from the enemy. I pray that we would be able to see through the smoke and mirrors and press in to what you are saying. God, would you strengthen our hands and send our enemies into confusion. Help us to finish well and not come down to the enemies level. In Jesus Name amen