“When you start shining a light, expect bugs.”
This is a phrase I heard my pastor say, and it hit home. It seems anytime you get on mission for God, opposition swarms.
A great biblical case study on how to face this opposition is Nehemiah. He led an effort to rebuild the Jerusalem wall in just 52 days after it lay in ruins for over a century. He accomplished this while facing at least seven direct attempts to stop the work (2:19; 4:1–3; 4:7–23; 6:1–4; 6:5–9; 6:10–14; 6:17–19).
Nehemiah’s opposition begins at the end of Chapter 2 with the introduction of Sanballat and Tobiah—detractors who mocked, jeered, and tried to derail the project (2:19).
While our spiritual enemy is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), Nehemiah’s strategy in handling these two detractors is another blueprint to build from.
Nehemiah focused on the work God called him to do, and he stayed on the wall no matter the challenge. He refused to let the pests dim his light.
Nehemiah did what he always did — he prayed.
“Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads…” — Nehemiah 4:4
This is an imprecatory prayer—asking God to bring divine justice on an enemy. This occurs often in the Psalms, such as Psalm 58:6, which says: “Break their teeth in their mouth, O God.”
How do we resolve these prayers with Jesus’s later direction in Matthew 5:44 to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?”
Responding to imprecatory prayers in scripture is a debated theological topic. Some say the imprecatory prayers are part of a bygone era, while others say they still offer a window to give God our deepest laments.
Rather than ignoring challenging sections of scripture, we should tackle the tension head-on and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.
As A.W. Tozer says, “I don’t want the world to define God for me. I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.”
Nehemiah shows repeatedly the power of unsanitized prayer. He trusts in God’s divine nature rather than attempting to take justice in his own hands. Nehemiah embodies what the prophet Joel later described as rending your heart (Joel 2:13) — sincerely wringing every drop of emotion out to God.
Yes, we should pray for our enemies. But sometimes that’s a struggle. God is not surprised by our emotions. He calls us to cast our cares to him — fully letting go (Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7). Perhaps our imprecatory pleas, surrendered to the Holy Spirit, become prayers for the very enemies we once wanted God to judge.
One thing about Nehemiah, he never prays and stops, either. He epitomizes what James would later describe as a doer, not just a hearer (James 1:22).
Another common theme in Nehemiah is his talent as a team builder. He built a team with “a mind to work”—people who trusted the resolve he demonstrated through his faith (Nehemiah 4:6).
Nehemiah equipped and organized his team and trusted their resolve.
While half built, the other half stood watch (4:16). They also kept swords on their belts (4:18). They knew the danger, but trusted the vision. They had each other’s backs.
Above all, Nehemiah and the workers wouldn’t budge.
Sanballat and Tobiah waged a misinformation campaign designed to distract Nehemiah. Four times they invited Nehemiah off the wall, each time with traps waiting. They even spread a story that Nehemiah planned to crown himself king.
Each time, Nehemiah refused:
“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” — Nehemiah 6:3
Our culture is a misinformation battlefield with social media algorithms, biased news, and outrage culture trying to take us off the wall.
We can’t let those pests dim our gospel light.
I’ve nearly shuttered this page a few times because of the doubts that creep into my mind of whether it is effective. That is a misinformation campaign by the enemy to stop me from building.
One thing that keeps me on the wall is the band of brothers God has given me. We meet weekly to exercise, study and share burdens. We have built trust — which builds resilience.
Resilience is key.
Pastor J.D. Greear compares Nehemiah’s response to the vaunted football statistic known as YAC—Yards After Contact. How far you can move the ball after taking a hit is telling – because contact is coming.
“Persistence in the face of opposition might be the most important skill to master if you’re going to succeed in the life God is calling you to,” Greear said.
Christians need to build their YAC.
Expect contact. Expect spiritual warfare. Prepare for it.
You will get more yards after contact when you sincerely rend your heart to God. Pray for your enemies, or go to God with your sincerest laments.
Surround yourself with a team that has a mind to work. Build with believers who will have your back, and that you will have theirs. Move the ball – together.
Stay on the wall. Keep building.
Build Your Prayer Wall
This week, we are going to add a difficult, but vital, brick to our wall: The Enemy Brick.
Write on a 3x5 index card someone who has criticized you, opposed you, or represents “opposition” in your life. Pray for them. Keep building this wall with a team.
Muster Seeds
Each week of the Nehemiah study includes a companion Muster Seed—a one-hour discipleship guide featuring physical and spiritual training designed to move today’s lesson from the page into practice. Continue to the companion guide and begin building. This week, get in an ultimate frisbee or football game and discuss your YAC.
Wow, you had me at the Bible and football 💪 May we all be YACers for life :-)
Love the practicality you included at the end! Nehemiah is such a powerful book. One I wish I had studied sooner in life!