Pray Through Opposition

Last Saturday was my son’s 11th birthday. Every year I look back at each year we have had with Evan and marvel at how amazing God is. You see, we almost didn’t become Evan’s parents. We were in the process of adopting him and received some terrifying news. It was the kind of news that makes you start seeing life happen in slow motion. Shocked from the horrifying information, Steve and I were driven to our knees.

As we prayed we begged God for answers. Pouring out our hearts to him we knew that only he could save us from what may lie ahead. And only as God can do he answered our prayers, and before we knew it we were in a court room filled with friends and family making Evan our son for real and forever!

Our scripture passage today shows Nehemiah in a desperate situation. Finding opposition all around as he and the Jews were rebuilding the wall, Nehemiah knew that the only solution to his problem would be found in prayer. Nehemiah constantly went to God while fulfilling the call He placed on Nehemiah's heart. Time and again we read about Nehemiah seeking God’s protection, guidance, and deliverance from his enemies.

That is exactly where God wants us, but not just in the hard times. He does not tire of our prayers. Just as I never tire of Evan coming to me for help, God wants us to seek him out. He is ready to do the impossible in our lives.

Read today passage here, Nehemiah 4:1-9

The Story - Chapter 21 - Rebuilding the Walls

I am reminded of a Bible verse which goes something like; "if God is for us, who can be against?"  There were obviously some people who did not want the city of Jerusalem fortified.  There were those who did not want the holes in the city walls filled in, probably because it would keep them out.

I love the last line below...But we prayed to our God and posted a guard..."  That is what we all should do when we are under attack.  When forces around us do not want God's will to rule, they will do everything in their power to stop it.  But they cannot stop the power of prayer.


Nehemiah 4:7-9 (NIV)
^"But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.  But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." 

Pray to God and post a guard.  That thought will stick with me during this coming Lenten season.  When we encounter trouble, pray...when we are faced with situations beyond our control...pray.  The Jews had no control over the conniving and hateful ways of their enemies but they knew that God was on their side.

Read Nehemiah 4 here

Listen to Nehemiah 4 here