Overcoming the Critics: Building Your Wall in a World of Mockery
- Thad DeBuhr
- Oct 18
- 8 min read
NEHEMIAH 30 Day Challenge: DAY 4
The Problem: It feels like the world is constantly challenging you, doesn't it? You finally get the clarity, the courage, and the drive to start that project, pursue that dream, or make that much-needed change—be it launching a new ministry, standing firm on a conviction, or repairing a broken relationship. You prepare, you plan, and you take the first brave step. But then, the critics, the doubters, and the outright mockers emerge. They don't just question your idea; they attack your character and plant seeds of fear and self-doubt. They try to make you feel foolish for even trying.
The Question: When opposition feels personal and the accusations are dangerous, how do you keep building without stopping to defend yourself?
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 Vision, the Victory, and the Vipers (Nehemiah 2:17-20)
The story of Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem to rebuild its ruined walls is often taught as a simple lesson in leadership, but the crisis he faced was deeply rooted in the history and politics of the Persian Empire. Understanding this context elevates Nehemiah's response from mere sass to an act of profound, faith-fueled courage.
The Disgrace of the Ruins (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 17)
Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and, after a period of secret inspection, finally addresses the leaders. He reminds them: “You know very well the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and no longer live in this disgrace!”
The Disgrace: For the Jewish people, the destruction of the city walls was more than an inconvenience; it was a symbol of national and spiritual shame. Walls symbolized protection, sovereignty, and God's covenant fidelity. Their absence signified utter powerlessness and vulnerability to every enemy tribe, making it impossible to truly live as God's separated, covenant people. The disgrace they felt was palpable and was a key motivation for the rebuild.
The Political Treason Charge (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 19)
Nehemiah casts the vision and shares the good news of God’s gracious hand and the Persian king’s approval. The people respond with enthusiastic commitment: “Let us start rebuilding!” (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 18).
This is when the enemies appear: Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab. They immediately seize on the most dangerous possible charge: “What are you doing? Are you going to rebel against the king?” (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 19, NLT).
The Gravity of Treason: This accusation was a serious, life-threatening political charge. Rebuilding the walls was an act of establishing self-rule. The Persian court had a fresh memory of previous Jewish resistance and had previously halted a rebuild based on this very fear of revolt (as documented in the book of Ezra). If this charge stuck, Nehemiah and the builders would face swift execution and total military intervention. The critics weren't just being mean; they were weaponizing the government against a spiritual project.
Nehemiah’s Counter-Strike (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 20)
Nehemiah's response is the ultimate blueprint for handling spiritual opposition. He refuses to debate the political accusation and instead pivots the focus entirely to God's sovereignty.
Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 20 (NLT): “I replied, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But as for you, you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.’”
He makes three definitive points, effectively ending the conversation:
The Source of Success: It's not the King's letter, but "The God of heaven" who guarantees success.
The Identity of the Builders: "We, his servants," are simply doing God's bidding.
The Critics’ Authority: They have "no share, legal right, or historic claim." Nehemiah draws a clear boundary, denying the critics any right to interfere with a divine project.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
Nehemiah casts his vision in verse 17 by highlighting the disgrace and the solution. What "disgrace" (a broken habit, a ruined relationship, a neglected spiritual life) is God calling you to rebuild or repair right now? How clear is your ultimate goal?
The critics attacked Nehemiah’s motive (treason) to derail his mission. When you face opposition, is it typically a direct critique of your action, or a personal attack on your character? How does knowing the Nehemiah story help you stop taking the latter personally?
Nehemiah pivots from defending his rights to declaring God's sovereignty. Where in your life are you currently too focused on defending yourself against critics, instead of simply declaring in faith that God will give you success?
Journey Group Discussion Starter: The Pain of the Accusation
In our study, Nehemiah was hit with a political and personal attack: "Are you rebelling against the king?" (Neh 2:19). His critics didn't attack the wall; they attacked his motive and character to try and make him stop.
Question:
Think of a time you were working on a "good thing" (a tough relationship, a new habit, a ministry, or a goal) and someone attacked not your actions, but your character or motive. What was the false accusation, and how did it make you feel the urge to stop the good work and focus only on defending yourself? (For example: Did they call your generosity "showing off," or your new boundary "selfish"?)
Applying it Today: The Anti-Troll Strategy
When God gives you a vision, you can expect "Sanballats" to arrive with accusations, mockery, and the desire to make you pause. Nehemiah’s response gives us a powerful, spiritual strategy: Pause, Pray, and Proceed.
1. Pause: Refuse to Engage the Bait
When the attack comes, the natural human urge is to immediately defend, explain, or fire back. This is the critics' goal—to shift your focus from building to brawling. The key is to recognize the accusation as a troll’s bait designed to distract you.
Doing It Wrong ❌: You waste an hour Defending yourself by crafting a detailed email or social media post to justify your motives, giving the critic's false premise power. You stop the work for a week, Worrying and re-evaluating the entire vision because of their noise.
Doing It Right ✅: You choose Pausing by taking a deep breath, recognizing the distraction, and immediately choosing to ignore the false premise. You practice Pivoting by shifting your mental energy from the critic’s claim to the next concrete step in your mission.
2. Pray: Declare Your Source of Success
Nehemiah didn't just ignore them; he immediately anchored his response in God. Before you speak or act, you must pray. This moves the conflict from a human-level argument to a spiritual declaration.
Praying It Wrong ❌: Your focus is on the enemy or yourself. You are Complaining, praying, "God, make them stop! Why are they doing this to me? I can’t do this with all this pressure." You fall into Self-Pity, praying for peace so the work will be easy.
Praying It Right ✅: You are Declaring in Faith, praying Nehemiah's words: “The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will start rebuilding.” (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 20). You are Seeking Clarity, praying for the courage and endurance to keep working despite the opposition.
Specific Prayer Requests (Modeled after Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 20):
"God, thank you that Your hand is on me for good. Help me believe this opposition is a sign that I am doing the right work."
"Help me to see this project not as my work, but as the work of Your servants."
"Show me the specific boundaries I need to draw, so I can tell my critics: 'You have no share or claim here.'"
3. Proceed: State Your Commitment and Act
Your final, loudest answer to the critics should be the sound of you returning to the work. Your action is your final declaration of where your trust lies.
Proceeding Wrong ❌: You continue Seeking Validation by trying to recruit the critics or spending energy convincing them to approve of your plan. You fall into Compromising, shrinking the vision or changing your plan to make it less offensive.
Proceeding Right ✅: You commit to Focusing the Team (even if your "team" is just you) by reaffirming the vision: “Let us start rebuilding.” (Nehemiah chapter 2, verse 18, NLT). You are Acting with Authority, boldly moving forward on the truth that “The God of heaven will give us success.” Take the next immediate, physical step in the project.
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