Overcome Discouragement!

Nehemiah 4

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, December 9.

It is easy to become discouraged when we experience criticism or intimidation. Nehemiah’s successes in Jerusalem led to opposition from their neighbors. Nehemiah 4:1 reports, “Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.”

People oppose the work of God when they feel threatened by it. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria and the last thing he wanted was a revitalized Israel. The refortification of Jerusalem would provide a haven for the Jewish exiles to return from Babylonian captivity in droves. He first opposed the work with mockery to discourage the workers, and when that wasn’t enough to stop them, he intensified the opposition with fear and intimidation.

It would have worked if it wasn’t for Nehemiah’s efforts to counter the discouragement and oppose the threats. His first tactic to overcome discouragement was to seek God, as recorded in verses 4-5, “Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.” Prayer is our first response to overcoming discouragement.

Second, Nehemiah took active steps to embolden the workers with a higher calling. Nehemiah 4:14 narrates, “When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: ‘Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.’” Nehemiah led his people in prayer and then in setting up a defense (9). He gave their lives and work meaning (9-23). Living with purpose is our second response to overcoming discouragement.

Seize the moment and seek a higher calling for your life and work (Colossians 3:23-24).

God bless you!

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