Pushing Through Oppositions
Posted on December 30, 2016 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters
“Then I replied to them, ‘The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.’” (Nehemiah 2:20)
After Nehemiah prayed and assessed the damage to the wall which protected Jerusalem, he began to process a strategy. Before he started, though, he faced the opposition from various heathen nations. “But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” (Nehemiah 2:19)
I heard it summed up best, “We are either are in a trial, fresh out of one, or about to face it.” Nonbelievers and believers alike have this one thing in common: struggles. This is a part of the life and the quicker we understand this reality, the quicker we can process the true essence of our hurdles. In this case, the opposition is operating through people, and personally speaking, relationships have proven to be one of my biggest learning devices.
The question: are you allowing the relationships around you, whether good or bad, to strengthen your walk? Have you complained against God’s tools of training? Nehemiah took the challenge head on and pushed to the goal that God had marked out for him.
Sidebar: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 60; Proverbs 30
Daily Quote: “Faith endures as seeing Him who is invisible; endures the disappointments, the hardships, and the heart-aches of life, by recognizing that all comes from the hand of Him who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind.” – A. W. Pink
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities. Psalm 31:7
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