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January 7, 2026
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Wednesday | January 7
SERVING GOD UNDER OPPOSITION
Base Text: Nehemiah 4:1-12
“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight.”
(Nehemiah 4:14)
The enemy’s first strategy was mockery. Sanballat and his allies tried to ridicule the people, calling them weak, questioning the value of their work, and belittling the effort being made.
Nehemiah 4 shows us a truth that runs throughout the entire history of God’s people: the work of the Lord will always face opposition. In the previous chapter, we see an encouraging scene. There was coordination, cooperation, motivation, and clear communication. Each person was in the right place, doing their part, with a heart committed to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. However, the progress of the work immediately provoked the reaction of the enemy.
The text makes it clear that organization and unity do not eliminate attacks. On the contrary, they often provoke them. While Jerusalem lay in ruins, the adversaries were at ease; but when restoration began, opposition rose with fury. This teaches us that spiritual progress is disturbing. Whenever God’s people decide to rise up in obedience, opposing forces try to paralyze the work.
Nehemiah, however, does not waste time arguing with the opponents. His response is twofold: prayer and work. He prays, placing the cause in God’s hands, and then immediately encourages the people to keep building. Prayer does not replace action, but it sustains those who continue working under pressure. The wall kept rising because the people’s hearts were firmly set on the Lord.
When external threats fail to stop the work, an even greater danger arises: internal discouragement. The people begin to look at the rubble, the exhaustion, and their own limitations, and they conclude, “We cannot do it.” In addition, rumors begin to spread, magnifying fear and undermining cooperation. Nehemiah then acts with pastoral firmness: he confronts fear, reminds the people of the Lord, and gives them a clear motivation—to fight for what was precious to them: their families.
This combination of faith, leadership, and action reveals that victory does not come from the absence of opposition, but from constant trust in God in the midst of it.
Nehemiah calls us to reflect on how we respond when we face opposition in our Christian walk. Often, discouragement does not arise from direct attacks, but from the accumulation of fatigue, criticism, and negative voices that we allow into our minds. This passage teaches us not to negotiate with fear, but to remember who the Lord is. When we keep our eyes on circumstances, we lose strength; when we remember the Lord, we regain courage. We are challenged to pray sincerely, watch with discernment, remain united, and continue doing our part, even when the environment is hostile. The work belongs to God, and He calls us to participate faithfully, knowing that victory does not come from our strength, but from the Lord who fights for us.
God’s work moves forward not when opposition disappears,
but when His people choose to trust and keep serving.
Calvary Baptist Church of Flemington, NJ
Written by Eliakim Aquino
