Dealing with Unexpected Hurdles

UV3614/10000. Dealing with Unexpected Hurdles But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. Nehemiah 4 v 9 Sanballat, Tobiah and others were mocking, opposing and plotting to attack Nehemiah and the Jews when they were about the task of rebuilding the ruins of the temple and the city walls. Whenever and wherever God’s work is underway, such forces and foes will emerge who will mock, offend the builders. But God frustrated their designs and enabled the work of rebuilding the walls unhindered by them. Nehemiah not only prayed but took practical steps to thwart them. He organized an armed guard by day and night. He exhorted the Jews not to be afraid but to remember the Lord who is awesome and to muster courage from Him and to fight for their rights. Half of Nehemiahs volunteers guarded the work while the other half built the walls. Every builder also had his building implements and a sword with him. Likewise, we too need to carry the sword of the Word of God in us along with the tools of our different professions. We need to be skilled and ready with both. The Jews were ever vigilant and ready for any assault. They did flinch or draw back from the work of building. Likewise, when we face unexpected opposition, we should muster courage and strength from the Lord, be encouraged with the word. We should spend time in prayer even as we do all the practical things we need to do to make things happen or to achieve our goal. The Lord will fight for us and thwart the evil designs of our foes. Nehemiah and his family and servants were so dedicated that they never even paused to change their clothes. We, too should continually wear our clothes of salvation and our armour of faith, carry the sword of faith in the word and speak it as the occasion needs to encourage, exhort, warn, edify, strengthen the people of God.