Nehemiah 6:16

New International Version (NIV)

When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

For Meditation

1. Have you ever seen any God-initiated, God-directed project that did not face opposition? But what always happened in the end?
2. When faith settles in the able hands of the Most High and locks itself into the program of the Almighty; is there any person, power, system, or obstacle to stop God’s people? What is there to stop the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led saint from accomplishing their divine calling or task?
3. What opposition didn’t Nehemiah face in the Jerusalem Wall Rebuilding Project? Armed with their weapons of mockery, intimidation, devious schemes, and political intrigues; were the Sanballats and the Tobiahs able to stop the project? Were they any match to the fire-power of God?
4. How could a helpless and deflated bunch of returnees from exile, overcome the challenge of the broken wall to complete such a gigantic rebuilding project in a record time of fifty-two days, if God Almighty had not been in it?
5. But, in everything and through it all, did you notice the power of prayer at work? Did you see how, time and again, Nehemiah threw himself into the hands of God in prayer? With such a burden for the work of God and faith to launch it; why wouldn’t heaven open its doors to the throne of grace each time Nehemiah lifted a passionate prayer to God in the face of opposition? Why wouldn’t heaven open up to you in the same way?

I pray we realize that all God requires is an available instrument, fired by faith and a determination to glorify Him; and we can call the work done. There may be brutal battles along the way and discouragement to overcome; but Calvary has declared the victory in Christ Jesus, and the empty grave has displayed it to the world.

So: In all our struggles and opposition, may we ask with Paul: “If God is for us, who can be against us (Rm. 8:31); and may we, with confidence, answer with him, “No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (37). For, as Gamaliel rightly said, “If [our] purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, [our enemies] will not be able to stop us; [they] will only find [themselves] fighting against God.”

Therefore, don’t give up! Never give in! Keep your head up and keep on building and being built for the glory of our Lord Jesus. It is well!

Shalom