Nehemiah 6:16: When Your Success Forces Critics to Credit God
- Thad DeBuhr
- Oct 28
- 7 min read
NEHEMIAH 30 Day Challenge: DAY 14
Have you ever stared at a problem—a debt, a broken relationship, a massive career goal, or a stubborn personal habit—and felt the sheer, crushing weight of impossibility? It’s the feeling that settles in after the initial excitement wears off, replaced by the grim reality that the task is simply too big for your time, your money, or your strength. Maybe you’ve even had people laugh at your effort, whispering, "They'll never finish that." This feeling is universal: we all know the despair of the unfinished, the ridiculed, and the overwhelming.
In the book of Nehemiah, the Jewish people were facing a task that had literally been impossible for over a century: rebuilding the defensive walls of Jerusalem. Every day brought physical exhaustion, financial strain, and constant, organized threats from foreign governors who hated their God. Yet, they finished the entire wall in fifty-two days.
When you face a "wall" in your life that seems too big to tackle, is it possible that your greatest obstacle is simply believing your own strength is the only factor? What does it take to accomplish a massive task so quickly that even your enemies are forced to say, "This was done by God?" Keep reading to find the answer.
Before you dig into the story, I would encourage you to read through the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene: The 52-Day Miracle
The completion of the wall on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days (Nehemiah chapter 6, verse 15, NLT), is an absolute miracle only truly understood through its cultural and historical context:
The Scale of the Task was enormous. The wall of Jerusalem was roughly 2.5 miles in circumference. It had been in ruins since the Babylonian destruction over 100 years earlier. Rebuilding it involved quarrying and hauling tons of large stone, mixing mortar, and laying a thick, high, defensive structure. Historically, a project of this magnitude in the ancient world would take years, even decades.
Crucially, there was the Shame of the City. For Jewish people returning from exile, a city without walls was not merely unsecured; it was a visible sign of their shame and disgrace (Nehemiah chapter 2, verses 17 through 18, NLT). The walls were the physical manifestation of God's protection and their identity as a distinct nation. Until the walls were up, they were "a reproach" (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 17, NLT). The people desperately needed this sign of God’s favor restored.
This leads to the Unique Victory. The enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem—were highly motivated regional governors who used every tactic: ridicule, threats of attack, and eventually, treachery. When the wall was finished, they were "terrified and lost their self-confidence" because "they realized this work had been done with the help of our God" (Nehemiah chapter 6, verse 16, NLT).
This is the ultimate victory: when the unbelieving opposition is forced to look at your finished work and recognize the fingerprints of the Almighty. The speed stripped them of any argument that this was merely human effort.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
Nehemiah’s enemies were defeated because they saw the work was done "with the help of our God." When you look at your current long-term goals (financial, spiritual, or relational), are you aiming for a level of success that will make it undeniable to others that God was involved? Or are your goals achievable solely through human effort?
The wall’s completion removed the shame from the people. What is the "broken wall" in your life right now (a bad habit, a debt, a cold spirit) that causes you shame? What can you learn from this passage about the speed and power God provides when we commit to rebuilding things for His glory?
The text says the enemies "lost their self-confidence." What is the power in doing a task so well and so completely that it changes the outlook of the people who are currently trying to discourage your faith?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Think of the biggest, most intimidating goal you’ve pursued in the last year. What was the exact moment when you wanted to quit, and what was the one thing—a Scripture, a word from a friend, or a surprising breakthrough—that convinced you to keep working?
Applying It Today: Finishing with God's Glory
The lesson of Nehemiah chapter 6, verses 15 through 16 (NLT), is that God-directed work is supernaturally accelerated work, and that acceleration is the ultimate testimony. To apply this principle today, we must shift our focus from our weakness to His enabling power.
Principle: Trusting God for Supernatural Speed and Glory
Step 1: Identify the God-Sized Goal
The first step is to pick a task that requires God's power to finish.
🛑 Do It Wrong: Pick a small, manageable goal you can certainly do on your own, then boast when it’s finished. For instance, saying, "I'll read a book this month, then credit my good time management." This leaves no room for God’s unmistakable intervention.
✅ Do It Right: Choose a "wall" that feels impossible—a task that requires a breakthrough you cannot orchestrate. For example, "I will completely forgive and seek reconciliation with a family member who wronged me, knowing I lack the emotional capacity to do it on my own."
Step 2: Commit to the Improbable Timeline
God's power often manifests in speed. We must pray and work with the expectation that He can act quickly.
🛑 Do It Wrong: Set a slow, safe, and easily achievable pace that keeps you in your comfort zone. For instance, saying, "I will pay off this debt over the next three years, ensuring minimal sacrifice today." This is human planning, not divine trusting.
✅ Do It Right: Pray and work with the expectation of a "52-day miracle." Push for a challenging pace, praying for supernatural provision and speed. For example, "I will sacrifice and trust God for a $\$5200$ debt payoff in the next 52 days, which requires a financial miracle I cannot earn on my own."
Step 3: Prepare the Testimony
The purpose of supernatural completion is not self-exaltation, but God’s glory.
🛑 Do It Wrong: Plan to celebrate your own resilience and grit when the work is complete, allowing critics to credit luck or timing. Your victory becomes a testament to you, not God.
✅ Do It Right: Plan the moment you finish, not for your own applause, but for the glory of God. Be ready to tell people, "This was done by my God," (Nehemiah chapter 6, verse 16, NLT). The finished work is your greatest sermon.
Your Next Step:
Consider that one impossible area in your life. Will you choose to Pray, Forgive, Encourage, Serve, Support, Give, or Connect in a way that is so clearly beyond your power that even your critics will be forced to look up?
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