Frustrations, discouragement, threats and subversion are common difficulties leaders face in ministry or in the cause of executing a project. Most leaders, at one time or another, face difficulties that make them want to throw in the towel. Are you a pastor, intercessor, missionary or church worker, you certainly will be conversant with these problems due to the burden of ministry? If truly you are, then you can understand why Nehemiah cried out to God: “O God, strengthen my hands.” It was a prayer born out of the burden of ministry. Moses knew what the burden of ministry was like. In future, when we see him, he will tell us what it means to experience weariness and heavy hands, which he faced during the battle with the Amalekites. The fact is that problems of ministry cause the hands of leaders to be weary, and weigh heavily on their emotions.
That Nehemiah made this prayer just before he completed his project, probably meant that he was about throwing in the towel before the work ended. For those who are conversant with divine assignments, at times, a breakthrough comes just when one is about to give up.
Nehemiah’s achievement of building the wall of Jerusalem in a recorded period of 52 days was by no means a great feat. It was remarkable and was not without the inherent difficulties commonly associated with leadership. His achievements came with lots of discouragements. Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem were a constant threat, menace and source of distractions. At every stage of the project, these men and their cohorts tried to distract Nehemiah and his team. They employed various tactics to distract and discourage the Jews. Their various tactics against Nehemiah went like this:
Firstly, they were visibly disturbed that Nehemiah had come to make inquiries about the welfare of the children of Israel (Nehemiah 2:10).
Secondly, they laughed at Nehemiah and the Jews for the work they were doing (Nehemiah 2:19).
Thirdly, when to their consternation they saw the work progressing, they became furious and indignant and mocked Nehemiah and his team further (Nehemiah 4:1-3).
Fourthly, as the work progressed, and the gaps were being closed on the wall, they became very angry and conspired to attack the Jews (Nehemiah 4:7-8 ).
Fifthly, they conspired to distract them by inviting them to a meeting. But Nehemiah bluntly refused to attend any meeting (Nehemiah 6:1-5).
Sixthly, they sent Shemaiah as a saboteur to spy on the Jews (Nehemiah 6:10-14).
Lastly, Tobias sent a threat letter to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:19).Satan and the enemies of our progress employed these seven tactics, and more, to discourage and distract us from our goals in ministry.
This includes the well-known contemporary distractions we all are facing from social media and telephones.
Nehemiah dealt with all these distractions and discouragements by resolutely remaining focused on the work God gave him to do. All efforts at distracting and stopping him were to no avail. This prompted Nehemiah to say this prayer, “O God, strengthen my hands.” The attacks must have been too much for him to cope with. Some of us may be in Nehemiah’s shoes right now and may need to say this prayer. Our hands need to be strengthened by God. May God strengthen our hands from distractions, weariness, fear, doubt, and discouragements.
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