I came across two new favorite verses, both from the book of Nehemiah. As I told my marketing team, I can easily apply both Scriptures to countless life circumstances!
I want to keep my head down and focus on the tasks God has given me today. (Image by Freepik)
There’s this one for when I’m irritated by interruptions…
“…I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3)
And even better, a standard response to run-of-the-mill nonsense…
“I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” (Nehemiah 6:8)
I went ahead and added that as my standard email signature.
Man on a Mission
All kidding aside, there’s a lot we can learn about pragmatic faith from my dude Nehemiah.
He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God had commissioned him to rebuild the wall around the temple in Jerusalem. It had been in ruins for more than half a century—several years after their return from exile—and Nehemiah found that downright appalling.
Beyond the lackluster curb appeal, Nehemiah knew the lack of a solid boundary left them defenseless against all sorts of unwelcome guests and dangers. Plus, the rubble was visually incongruent with the glorious God they served.
So Nehemiah took construction matters into his own hands, trusting in the Lord's strength and provision to make it possible.
“Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. (Nehemiah 2:17-18)
Do Not Disturb
Not everyone was a fan of Nehemiah or his work, however. A group of neighborhood bullies immediately started scheming about ways to derail his progress.
Here’s what went down, in Nehemiah’s own words.
Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”
But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. (Nehemiah 6:2-4)
Then Nehemiah put out his “Do Not Disturb” sign and simply went back to work.
Not to be deterred, Sanballat sent one final letter. This time, the message was filled with lie after lie about Nehemiah’s motives, plus some not-so-thinly-veiled threats about what the king might do once he got wind of the “truth.”
Nehemiah wasn’t spooked, not even for a moment. Instead, he put down his hammer just long enough to send a quick reply and throw up a prayer for strength.
I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” (Nehemiah 6:8-9)
With that, he went right back to work—and the project was finished sooner than anyone could have expected.
Through Nehemiah’s unwavering faith and relentless pursuit of the mission at hand, God worked a miracle beyond human comprehension. Just 52 days after the groundbreaking, the wall was completed and ready for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
3 Truths and a Lie
So what’s the moral here?
(I promise it goes beyond a couple of amusing-when-out-of-context verses.)
For me, Nehemiah’s story reminded me of three truths and a lie.
First, the lie: faith is sitting back and waiting for God to do all the work. That’s not true at all!
Yes, we trust in God and must rely on His direction, strength, and provision to experience all the blessings He intends for us and those whose lives we touch. That doesn’t mean, however, that we simply sit twiddling our thumbs. We are often called to walk out our faith through prayer-guided action!
Without God, I am nothing—but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do anything. He gave us our physical and mental abilities for a reason, so let’s put them all to good use.
And now for the three truths…
1. God’s “calling” is often to the mundane. God hasn’t asked me to pick up a hammer or to build a wall—and for good reason. (You can learn more about my wall-building competency in chapter 6 of Money and Spirit.)
For today, he’s asked me to write. And to proofread. And to pick up the groceries. And to help organize the carpool. And all of that’s enough—because it’s all for Him.
Like Nehemiah, I want to keep my head down and focus on the tasks God has given me today.
“Whatever you do [as a wife, mother, daughter, church-goer, manager, friend, etc.], in word [via blog, social media, text or whispered conversation] or deed [laundry folding, errand running, and dishwashing included] do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17, my bracketed examples added)
2. God is the source of truth. Nehemiah didn’t care what people said about him or what nonsense they spouted to distract him from the job at hand. Instead, he consulted regularly with the original and eternal Source of Truth. If God said it, that was good enough for him.
Man, I wish I could be more like that!
There is tremendous freedom in letting go of what anyone thinks and relying instead on the wisdom and approval of the Father.
3. God can do more than we could ever possibly do on our own. Nehemiah’s 52-day construction project defies any explanation of superhuman strength or efficiencies. Likewise, when we commit our ways to God, He can work in incredible ways beyond our comprehension.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
As it turns out, Nehemiah’s story has more to offer me than an amusing email sign-off. Like him, I want to be faithful in the small things, rely on God as my source of truth, and live out my faith through action, believing that God will do more than I could ever possibly do on my own.
And to all the haters who might try to get in the way: don’t even bother.
I’m doing too great a work to come down.
Money and Spirit
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