“The task is too great” “I’m overwhelmed” “I’m tired of this” “I can’t do it” “I wish I were somewhere else” “Quit! You’ve served long enough—move on” … are the thoughts that have been crossing my mind and weighing down on my soul lately. But the following unexpected thoughts have also filled my mind: “You can do it” “You’ve been chosen to do this” “You will change your generation” “God is with you” “God is for you” “God will strengthen you” “You remember Nehemiah?”

With a heavy heart and those opposing, battling thoughts in mind, I opened my Bible to the book of Nehemiah and started to read. It was a story I was well acquainted with, but it felt like I was reading it for the first time. 

When Nehemiah heard that the Temple in Jerusalem was being reconstructed, he felt a burden to build the walls of the city as there was no wall to protect it. He first brought his burden to God in prayer, asking for His favor so he would be granted permission to return to Jerusalem from his employer and obtain supplies to complete this great task. God granted him favor and very swiftly he obtained permission from the king and he was made governor of Jerusalem to undertake his project. It was not easy, but in spite of the opposition, discouragements and false accusations that arose against him, Nehemiah remained faithful in prayer, in his mission and in delegating the task to the Israelites who were given specific assignments in rebuilding the wall. Everything was completed in 52 days. 

Nehemiah remained faithful and never gave up. He persisted in doing five things very well: 

1. He turned to God first (Nehemiah 1:4-11) 




2. He prayed every time he felt anxious or harassed (Nehemiah 1:4-11, 2:4, 4:7-9, 5:19, 6:9, 6:14) 




3. He recruited helpers and delegated the task to rebuild, as he understood it was a difficult task for him to undertake by himself (Nehemiah 2:16-18) 




4. He encouraged himself and the Israelites by reminding them of how great God is (Nehemiah 2:17-18, 4:13-14, 4:19-20, 8:10) 




5. He boldly reminded his enemies that God was with them through that rebuilding project (Nehemiah 2:20) 

Nehemiah’s story reminds us that those who set themselves in doing great things for God inevitably experience discouragement and opposition, however, to be counted among the faithful, we need to strive and not give up. We need to turn to God first, surrender to prayer, learn to not overwhelm ourselves with tasks that are meant to be delegated, remember how great God is and remind the enemy that God is on our side, never to leave us nor forsake us—He is always there to strengthen us, protect us and help us complete what He has called us to do.