Thursday, November 13th, 2025
In any challenge or calling we find ourselves in, it’s not a matter of whether or not we will face resistance, for we certainly will. The greater test is how we respond to the resistance. The enemy will use any and every method he can, either externally or internally, to stop our progress. He may try physical means like sickness or loss, or he may feed us so many tasty lies that we sabotage what God wants to do.
And yes, I am still on the Nehemiah train. I am really enjoying all the different ways that he responds to resistance. Let’s look at Nehemiah 6:8-9:
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” 9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Sanballat had just sent his servant with a letter for Nehemiah. Nehemiah had previously rejected four other messages from Sanballat trying to convince Nehemiah to meet with him. Nehemiah knew he was up to no good. So finally Sanballat put his thoughts in writing. His letter is full of lies and the scripture above is Nehemiah’s response.
Nehemiah sent him a response and defended the truth of the matter. It’s the last sentence above that spoke to me the most. Nehemiah recognized that Sanballat was trying to weaken Nehemiah’s hands so that they couldn’t get the work done. Nehemiah didn’t get defensive and prideful. He simply recognized that God is the source of his strength and that he will continue to need His strength in order to complete this work. I love this heart posture.
A couple of blogs ago we discovered that Sanballat’s name means strength. Nehemiah didn’t want to get suffocated with worldly, unsanctified strength. He knew what he needed in this battle was God’s pure, undefeated strength. He turned what the enemy meant for evil into fuel for his holy fire.
Final Thoughts…
Often times when we are attacked or face resistance, we don’t respond like this. We either crumble under the pressure, rise up in unrighteous anger, seek harmful revenge, or spiral into unhealthy thought patterns and role-playing. Nehemiah stated what was true and then ran back to the arms of His Provider. He didn’t waste unnecessary energy defending himself. He didn’t cower in a corner. He didn’t seek out humans to vent to or help heal his wounds. He stood his ground and confirmed his dependence on his Source of Life.