Tag Archive for: Nehemiah

Have you ever excitedly started a new project and halfway in wondered, Whatever made me think I could do this anyway? This is beyond my abilities! I’ll never get done. The halfway point can be hard. The initial excitement disappears, the project looms larger than anticipated, unpredicted problems pile on, fatigue weighs in, and persevering seems impossible.

Laying Slate

Replacing the entire downstairs floor after a slab leak took several months. I cut the tiles and Clay laid them!

And for kingdom-building projects, at the halfway point our enemy steps up attacks.

This is what happened in the Old Testament book Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem to help the Israelites annoyed their enemies. When he rallied the people together to begin rebuilding protective walls, these enemies mocked and ridiculed them. But Nehemiah was convinced God would give them success so they kept working.

Now that really riled their enemies. They ridiculed the builders even more, telling them they were too feeble to work, their materials were crummy, they’d never finish, and even if they did, the wall was so shoddy it would tumble if a fox hopped on it.

Nehemiah responded with prayer: “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads” (Neh. 4:4). And he kept the workers persevering.

The Halfway Point

But at the halfway point, the builders became tired and discouraged because the rubble was so great they could hardly work. Meanwhile, their furious enemies threatened to kill them!

That’s how it is when we’re completing a work to build God’s kingdom. At the point of natural fatigue, the devil steps up spiritual attacks. He knows our weaknesses and that’s where he wages war.

Nehemiah knew the situation was grave so he slowed down the work. Half the people worked while the rest guarded the builders. He posted guards at vulnerable spots. Nehemiah arranged it that anyone who was attacked could sound a trumpet so the others could help fight. He posted guards at night and instructed everyone to sleep in their clothes with their weapons at hand. And he encouraged the people by telling them not to be afraid of the enemies, but remember the Lord and fight for each other.

Steps for Persevering

Personally, I’m at the halfway point on some projects, so I’ll keep persevering past halfway like Nehemiah by making sure I:

  1. Remember that thoughts such as, You’re inadequate, you’ll never get it done, and this isn’t really good enough to do the job anyway can be the enemy’s intimidation tactics
  2. Guard carefully areas in which I know I’m most vulnerable
  3. Ask friends to pray for me and thereby fight with me
  4. Listen to worship music before bedtime
  5. Arm myself with the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God
  6. Tell myself: 

Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.

Nehemiah 4:14

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Edited 10/24/19. Originally published 12/20/11.

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Intimidation is a hummingbird's way

Hummingbird sticks out tongue

Have you ever embarked on what you thought might be a way to help others, but as soon as you told people about it, became intimidated? I have. In fact, just last year I joined a newly formed writers’ group and shared my plans for books to encourage Christians and strengthen faith. Though I’d published before, as soon as I heard about the others’ awards won, books published, and numerous articles written, I thought, Who am I fooling? I should quit now!

I didn’t quit, however, as I soon realized I was merely intimidated. A friend mentioned it’s not just fears of inadequacy that feed intimidation: it’s often a spiritual battle. Indeed, the Bible tells us we are battling “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12), so it makes sense there will be a spiritual battle when what’s at stake is spiritually strengthening others.

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah tells how the Israelites’ enemies tried to intimidate Nehemiah to stop him from helping others.

Nehemiah wanted to rebuild Jerusalem’s fallen walls so its people would be protected from plunderers. He discussed his plans with the king, who not only approved his plans but appointed him Judah’s governor. Nehemiah finished arranging everything that could be done before he headed out to his new post.

However, when he arrived at Jerusalem with army officers and letters from the king, he discovered right away that the Israelites’ enemies “were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” (Neh. 2:10).

What did Nehemiah do? He didn’t try to win them over: these enemies opposed his goals. Neither did he ask the people he would govern what they thought he should do. Instead, under night’s cover, he examined the ruins with a few trusted men. He told no one there what he was up to until he knew exactly what needed to be done and how. That prevented naysayers from killing the project before it even started with “That’ll never work,” “You’ll never convince so-and-so,” and “You don’t know what we’re up against.”

Then Nehemiah called the people together and told them what he wanted to accomplish and why: “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Neh. 2:17). He rallied their hopes by sharing how God’s hand had been with him so far. They responded, “Let’s do it!”

But as soon as the work began, the enemies mocked and ridiculed Nehemiah and the workers, saying “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” (Neh. 2:19).

They were trying to intimidate the Israelites by claiming they were incompetent and threatening trouble if they kept going.

But Nehemiah recognized those words came from enemies who wanted to plunder Jerusalem. He stayed focused on the goal and replied, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem” (Neh. 2:20).

Like Nehemiah, I’d seen needs and I’d fasted, prayed, and planned. Doors opened. I made more detailed plans.

And when I got together with others so we could rally each other on, mocking thoughts besieged me.

Hmm. My situation sounded a lot like Nehemiah’s.

So I recognized the ridicule’s source, focused on the goal, told myself God would make successful whatever He wanted me to do, and got writing.

Which was the right thing to do.

 If you’ve become intimidated after telling others a goal, how have you battled it?

“But when [our enemies] heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’ I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” ~Nehemiah 2:19-20

Demolished bathroom

A slab leak pushed a bathroom remodel ahead of other projects in 2005

Five book ideas competed for my attention like auditioning dancers. All seemed exciting, but working with any would be daunting. And then there was the completed Bible study guide that had been well received at two churches. Should I submit it to a publisher? That meant creating a blog—another time consumer.

I thumbed through my black leather Bible’s pages to the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. You see, Nehemiah knew how to tackle a difficult project.

The book begins with Nehemiah in a fortress of Susa (in modern-day Iran), his brother having just told him that their fellow Jews were in great trouble and disgrace. About 140 years earlier Babylon had broken down Jerusalem’s walls, burned its gates and buildings, taken its treasures, and exiled the inhabitants.  A Jewish remnant eventually returned and rebuilt a temple and homes. But the city still lacked walls to protect it from enemies.

Nehemiah wept for his people. He wanted to help. But he had a fulltime, prestigious position as cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes. The king trusted him to serve him wine that wasn’t poisoned, something Nehemiah ensured by drinking first. He had the king’s confidence and ear. It wasn’t the kind of job one could choose to quit.

Nehemiah took five steps as he contemplated what to do about Jerusalem’s need.

First, for days he fasted and prayed, mourning over the need and confessing his sins and those of his people. He offered himself as a servant to God, willing to help how he could.

Second, Nehemiah devised a plan. He wanted to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. He calculated what he would need and how to get it. He estimated the time it would take. He did not, however, waste time planning particulars that wouldn’t matter if the plan were nixed.

Third, he picked a day to present his plan to the king. He didn’t wait around anxiously pondering endless what-if scenarios. He set right to finding out if God was going to bless this venture.

Fourth, when the day came, Nehemiah asked God to grant him favor before Artaxerxes, the person with the power to say yes or no—and who had decreed previously the walls not be rebuilt (Ezra 4:21).

Nehemiah was ready when the opportunity came suddenly: when he brought the king his wine, the king asked him why he seemed sad.

Finally, despite his fear, Nehemiah seized the opportunity and told Artaxerxes what was on his heart. The king asked what he wanted. Nehemiah prayed again and asked for a leave of absence to rebuild the city. Then he laid out his plan.

Artaxerxes granted his request. That’s when Nehemiah knew God had answered YES!

I considered Nehemiah’s five steps carefully:

  1. Seeking God through fasting, prayer, confession and willingness
  2. Devising a plan
  3. Setting a date to present the plan
  4. Asking God to grant favor
  5. Seizing opportunity despite fear

I had done step 1. I’d gotten stuck on step 2 by planning unnecessary details. So I dropped those distractions and set a date to test whether I could manage a blog: if within two weeks I could write five, I’d set a date by which I’d pitch the Bible study guide.

Within five days I wrote eight blogs.

November is my goal for presenting a proposal for the guide.

What about you? Are you contemplating a move, seeking a new job, pursuing a new passion? At which step are you now? Which step is usually most difficult for you?

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” ~Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)

Next: Nehemiah thwarts mockers.