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I can still recall the excitement I felt when I discovered God’s purpose for my life. I could hardly wait to share my vision with others and get right to work. I thought everyone would be eager to come onboard, after all this was not my idea it was God’s idea! Honestly, I was so naive. No sooner did my team and I go to work, the unexpected happened; criticism began pouring in.

 

When Nehemiah began the reconstruction of the walls in Jerusalem, one would think that everyone would have been onboard with him. Its rational to assume that the people would be happy about the project. After all, this was not Nehemiah’s idea this was God’s plan to save the people of Jerusalem from the disgraceful conditions in which they lived. However, as soon as Nehemiah and the people went to work, the criticism began to rain down on them.

 

Nehemiah 4:1-3 NIV

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”

 

• They criticized their character. “What are those feeble Jews doing?” “Feeble”; meaning you do not have the necessary character to pull this off.

• They criticized their abilities and knowledge. “Will they restore their wall?” In other words, you guys do not have the necessary abilities or knowledge to rebuild.

• They criticized the reality of the endeavor. “Will they offer sacrifices?” They were saying to them; do not waste your time or money it will never happen.

• They criticized their commitment. “Will they finish in a day?” You guys do not have what it takes to see this through.

• They criticized the viability of the project. “Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble-burned as they are?” In essence what they were saying was that it was going to take a miracle. They were insinuating that the people were foolish to assume that God would be with that group of incompetent people.

• They criticized their capability. “What are they building? Even a fox climbing up on it would break down their walls of stones.”

 

After this barrage of criticism, Nehemiah decided to respond by:

1-Praying: Hear us God, we are despised. – Nehemiah 4:4 NIV

2-Remembering: After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”                            – Nehemiah 4:14 NIV

3-Creating a new plan: From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor. – Nehemiah 4:16 NIV

 

There will always be those who oppose you, especially when you choose to act upon God’s purpose for your life. When, not if, but when it happens, the proper response is to pray, remember, and even create a new plan to move forwards if necessary.