Don’t Let the Enemy Stop the Work God Gave You

Sometimes opposition comes through an actual attack. Other times, it comes through words designed to make you question the work God gave you to do. Nehemiah experienced both.

God had placed on Nehamiah’s heart to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The work progressed, but Israel’s enemies didn’t like what they saw. Sanballat mocked the Jews, and Tobiah joined him by making a ridiculous statement.

Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” Nehemiah 4:3

“Even a fox walking across the wall would cause it to collapse?” I’ve had an experience with a fox that makes Tobiah’s statement even more interesting to me.

Years ago, I took our oldest son, Chris, hunting when he was a young teenager. After getting him settled in a place where he could wait for a deer, I took my position nearby.

Before long, a beautiful red fox came running along the ridge. It passed so close to Chris that he could almost have reached out and touched it.

But here’s what caught our attention because we never heard it. We only knew the fox passed by because we happened to see it. We got a firsthand lesson in how quietly and lightly a fox can move.

Now picture a wall made of stone. Would a little fox running across the top knock it down? Of course not. Yet that’s exactly the picture Tobiah used to ridicule the work God’s people were doing.

Don’t Believe Everything the Enemy Says

The enemy often works the same way today. He doesn’t need to prove that you will fail. He only needs to convince you that you will, by using terms like:

You can’t do this.
You’re not qualified.
Your work isn’t making a difference.
Nobody cares.
You might as well quit.

When you stop and examine those thoughts in light of God’s Word, some of them make about as much sense as a fox knocking down a stone wall. Yet if we listen long enough, they can discourage us.

I once heard a conference speaker ask, “Do we just believe in the Lord, or do we believe the Lord?” There’s an important difference.

Plenty of people say they believe in God. But when trouble comes, whose words do they actually trust?

The enemy says you can’t continue. God says He will give you strength.
The enemy points toward everything that could go wrong. God calls you to remain faithful.
The enemy tells you the work doesn’t matter. God tells you that your labor for Him never goes to waste.

Whose voice will you believe?

Keep Building

Nehemiah didn’t waste his time arguing with Tobiah about foxes. He kept building. As the opposition intensified, however, Nehemiah and the people didn’t ignore the danger.

But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. Nehemiah 4:9

Notice the balance. They prayed, and they guarded. Jesus tells us to watch and pray. They trusted God, and they took appropriate action.

Later, the situation became so serious that some workers carried materials while others held weapons. Those working on the wall kept a weapon close at hand. They refused to let the enemy stop the work.

That’s an important lesson for us because God also gave us work to do. We may not build stone walls, but every Christian can contribute to the work of God’s kingdom.

We encourage people, we pray, we give, we serve, we share the gospel. God uses us to teach His Word and help those in need. We use whatever gifts and opportunities God has placed in our hands.

And while we work, opposition will come.

Use the Weapon God Gave You

Nehemiah’s workers kept their weapons ready. God has also given us a weapon. Paul called God’s Word “the sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17. Hebrews tells us:

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12

When discouragement tells you to quit, go back to God’s Word. When fear tells you that you can’t accomplish what God has called you to do, go back to God’s Word.

Even when circumstances make you question whether your work matters, go back to God’s Word. Don’t measure God’s calling by the enemy’s criticism. Measure it by what God has said.

Nehemiah and his workers eventually finished the wall. Their enemies couldn’t stop them because the people refused to abandon the work God had placed before them. You can do the same.

Life Application

Examine what you have been listening to. Don’t accept discouraging thoughts simply because they sound convincing. Compare them with God’s Word.
Pray and keep working. Nehemiah prayed, guarded the city, and continued building. Trusting God doesn’t mean doing nothing.
Keep God’s Word within reach. When fear, criticism, or discouragement attacks, answer it with what God has already said.
Don’t allow opposition to define your calling. Difficulty doesn’t necessarily mean you missed God’s direction. Sometimes opposition comes because you’re doing exactly what God gave you to do.
Finish what God has placed in your hands. You don’t have to accomplish everything. Faithfully complete the work He has given you.

Tobiah talked about a fox, yet Nehemiah kept building a wall.

Don’t allow the enemy’s words to become louder than God’s calling. Pray, stand your ground, keep God’s Word close, and continue building.

The enemy doesn’t get to decide whether you finish the work God gave you.

Lord, thank you for providing the tools and protection we need as we do what you gave us to do. We especially thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit.