Focused on the Calling
Nehemiah 4:6-10 (ESV)
So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
Reflection
We will all face opposition sometime in our lives. Not everyone will agree with how we live our lives or our views on a particular topic. It becomes even more difficult as we share our faith in a world that opposes Christianity. The decisions we make may not be the most popular with our friends and family; however, we must stand firm in what we believe. The important thing to remember is that God will show Himself on our behalf if we are following Him with our whole heart.
In Nehemiah’s story, he was determined to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. God had placed it on his heart and had given him everything he needed to accomplish the task. The only problem was that the neighboring nations were greatly opposed to the rebuilding. They did not want Jerusalem to return to power and regain its fortification. This forced Nehemiah to decide who he was going to listen to. He could give in to the opposition and stop the construction project, or he could continue to focus on the calling God had placed on him. He chose to ignore the voices of the enemy, and he prayed that God would give him direction for the next step. Nehemiah realized the project would not be accomplished without help, so guards were placed for protection, and the workers armed themselves as they worked day and night to finish the wall.
Nehemiah’s story is unique but not so different from our lives. God has a specific plan for each of us if we are willing to answer His calling. Sometimes the calling is not what we expect, and there will always be pressure to take the easy path and ignore what God has for us. Thankfully, He has given us His Spirit to help guide us in these situations. It might be as easy as being kind to a neighbor and generous to our Uber driver. At other times, God might want us to share our testimony with a co-worker, invite the grocery employee to church, or travel to a foreign country to further the Kingdom. Whatever it is, have confidence that God will show Himself. He is faithful and will never leave us when we call on His name.
Action Steps
How do you respond to situations when things get difficult? Do you stop and take a step back to seek God, or do you try to “fix” the problem on your own? Emotions are real, and how we respond is so important. Next time something comes up that is out of your control, stop and pray to God for His wisdom. He promises to be with you when you place your faith in Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your opinion is the one that matters the most…and You see me as a beloved child. Help me to recognize the calling You have given me. Give me direction, courage, and the boldness to walk it out. I know You will give me all the tools and resources I need to accomplish the task. Give me the eyes to see and the ears to hear! Amen.
So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
Reflection
We will all face opposition sometime in our lives. Not everyone will agree with how we live our lives or our views on a particular topic. It becomes even more difficult as we share our faith in a world that opposes Christianity. The decisions we make may not be the most popular with our friends and family; however, we must stand firm in what we believe. The important thing to remember is that God will show Himself on our behalf if we are following Him with our whole heart.
In Nehemiah’s story, he was determined to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. God had placed it on his heart and had given him everything he needed to accomplish the task. The only problem was that the neighboring nations were greatly opposed to the rebuilding. They did not want Jerusalem to return to power and regain its fortification. This forced Nehemiah to decide who he was going to listen to. He could give in to the opposition and stop the construction project, or he could continue to focus on the calling God had placed on him. He chose to ignore the voices of the enemy, and he prayed that God would give him direction for the next step. Nehemiah realized the project would not be accomplished without help, so guards were placed for protection, and the workers armed themselves as they worked day and night to finish the wall.
Nehemiah’s story is unique but not so different from our lives. God has a specific plan for each of us if we are willing to answer His calling. Sometimes the calling is not what we expect, and there will always be pressure to take the easy path and ignore what God has for us. Thankfully, He has given us His Spirit to help guide us in these situations. It might be as easy as being kind to a neighbor and generous to our Uber driver. At other times, God might want us to share our testimony with a co-worker, invite the grocery employee to church, or travel to a foreign country to further the Kingdom. Whatever it is, have confidence that God will show Himself. He is faithful and will never leave us when we call on His name.
Action Steps
How do you respond to situations when things get difficult? Do you stop and take a step back to seek God, or do you try to “fix” the problem on your own? Emotions are real, and how we respond is so important. Next time something comes up that is out of your control, stop and pray to God for His wisdom. He promises to be with you when you place your faith in Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your opinion is the one that matters the most…and You see me as a beloved child. Help me to recognize the calling You have given me. Give me direction, courage, and the boldness to walk it out. I know You will give me all the tools and resources I need to accomplish the task. Give me the eyes to see and the ears to hear! Amen.
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