Fighting for Our Family and Purpose
Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
Nehemiah 4:14 NLT
In chapters 3 through 7 of Nehemiah, we see that the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem faced fierce opposition. External enemies mocked, threatened armed attacks, and tried to instill terror to paralyze the work. In addition, internal problems of injustice and oppression arose among the same brothers who were working on the project. However, Nehemiah did not give in to fear or intimidation. He organized the people, armed them with swords and tools, confronted corruption, and reminded them who they were really fighting for. This portion of the Bible teaches us invaluable principles about how to stay focused and defend the spiritual, family, social, and financial success that God has entrusted to us, even when we are under heavy attack.
- We must not give in to fear
The enemy will always try to use fear, mockery, and intimidation to paralyze our progress. When we decide to rise up to do God’s will and build our home or our ministry, toxic voices will arise telling us that we will not be able to achieve it. We must not allow fear to paralyze us; we must stand firm and keep walking in faith. - Remember how great our God is
Nehemiah told the people to remember the Lord, who is great and glorious. Sometimes we focus so much on the size of our problems, debts, or conflicts that we forget the power of the Creator. When we shift our focus to the greatness of Jesus Christ and remember His promises, fear totally loses its power over us. - Work with one hand and fight with the other
The builders of the wall worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. This speaks to us of the need to be diligent and at the same time to be spiritually on guard. We must work hard in our businesses, studies, and marriages, but at the same time stay alert through continuous prayer and reading of the Word to protect what we are building. - Maintain integrity in the midst of crisis
While they were building the wall, complaints arose about internal injustices. Nehemiah confronted the problem firmly and set an example by giving up his own financial privileges so as not to oppress the people. True success must never be achieved by taking advantage of others; a wise leader maintains his character, is generous, and cares for his community. - Do not be distracted by provocations
When the adversaries saw that the wall was advancing quickly, they tried to distract Nehemiah by inviting him to meet with them to set a trap for him. His response was clear: he was doing a great work and was not going to stop. In our lives, there will be perverse people and situations that will try to distract us from our purpose. We must learn to say no to those distractions to stay focused on the goal.
Rebuilding and protecting the damaged areas of our life requires determination, courage, and unwavering faith. Just as the people of Israel managed to finish the immense wall in only fifty-two days despite constant opposition, we too can overcome any obstacle if we remain united and focused on God’s original plan. The Lord is on our side and has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us. If we remember His greatness, care for our family with courage, and do not allow distractions to take us away from our purpose, we will see victory and leave a legacy of blessing for our next generations.
Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
Nehemiah 4:14 NLT
Think About It:
- What fear or toxic distraction is trying to paralyze the work God has called you to do in your life or in your home?
- Are you working with one hand and fighting with the other, maintaining a healthy balance between your daily effort and your vigilance in prayer?
- Identify today a great work in your life (your marriage, your ministry, or your career) and make the firm decision not to stop to listen to the criticism of troublemakers.