Life’s challenges can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to overcome you. This message from DaySpring Christian Church offers wisdom from Nehemiah 4 on how to combine faith and action. A perfect message for high school youth ministry in Fort Collins, learning to battle with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other.
Introduction
Good morning, church! We’re continuing our journey through the book of Nehemiah. For those who have been with us, you know this narrative tends to mirror the ups and downs of our own spiritual lives.
We started in Chapter 1 with Nehemiah, burdened by the brokenness of Jerusalem. His heart was broken for his city. We saw him moved to tears, driven to fervent prayer, and then ready to take decisive action.
In Chapter 2, God, in His sovereignty, granted Nehemiah incredible favor with the King, the most powerful man in the world at that time. Not only was he allowed to go to Jerusalem, but he was also given abundant provisions for the work ahead.
Then, in Chapter 3, we witnessed a beautiful picture of unity and purpose. The people of God in Jerusalem, each “member” doing his or her part, came together, shoulder to shoulder, to rebuild the walls. God used ordinary people to achieve extraordinary unity.
But here’s the thing about progress, especially when it comes to Kingdom work: it often invites opposition. I would think that when good is being done, when the kingdom is advancing, when lives are being transformed, the forces of darkness feel threatened. When the people in Jerusalem were content with their broken walls, maybe it wasn’t any cause for concern for the enemy. But once the Jews rallied to serve the Lord and bring glory to God’s name by rebuilding, the enemy became intensely active. Though not named, you can see his tactics at play in trying to thwart these God-ordained plans.
And I would think that probably agrees with your experience too, right? It sounds like I’m describing our own lives. We step out in faith, we start seeing God’s hand at work, we start bearing fruit, but before long, adversity seems to rear its ugly head once again. Obstacles appear, challenges mount, and we find ourselves wondering if we can possibly go on.
British writer G.K. Chesterton once said, “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.” That’s certainly how it felt for Nehemiah. The very ones he sought to bless—the surrounding peoples—were the ones most threatened by his mission. He had come to rebuild the wall, yes, but more than that—he had come to rebuild a people. A place where God’s glory could dwell. A city where righteousness and justice and goodness and blessing would flourish.
But as we’ll see in Nehemiah 4, when the people of God rise up to build, the enemies of God rise up to oppose. Where there is a trowel in one hand, a sword must be in the other. The faithful must become both workers and warriors.
Nehemiah 4 outlines what this looked like for Nehemiah and his friends — they face ridicule, intimidation, discouragement, and fear — and yet Nehemiah holds firm, he’s steadfast… turns to the Lord, and continues the good work… and mobilizes the people.
This text reminds us that when it comes to building God’s kingdom, resistance is to be expected… and the people who commit to it must be prepared for both construction and conflict. Today, in Nehemiah 4, we learn a profound and practical truth: that though we may be overwhelmed, we are not overcome. Let’s look at the text…
Overwhelmed by Adversity (Nehemiah 4:1-10)
1-3, “Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. 2 He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!”
They’ve got some critics… the bad guys looked at the progress being made… and the text says Sanballat was furious. He couldn’t stand it! Nehemiah’s arrival and the rebuilding of Jerusalem threatened the power, influence, and probably the financial interests of guys like Sanballat and Tobiah. The work of God is always threatening to those who oppose Him.
Let’s quickly remember who these guys were. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria to the north, and Tobiah was an Ammonite official to the east. This means that these guys aren’t just random, average Joe’s, showing up because they think it’s funny to heckle others… they were regional adversaries who had grown accustomed to Jerusalem’s weakness. One commentator conjectures, “A strong, rebuilt Jerusalem meant a disruption to their self-serving agendas – agendas rooted in exploitation and profit at the expense of others, rather than justice and goodness.” They had their own plans and Nehemiah and the wall put those plans in jeopardy…
Think about it: when God’s people start doing good, when they start rebuilding what’s broken, when they start living out God’s purposes, people see the contrast! The darkness is brought to the light and we see the self-serving nature of others.
These critics were not going to stand idly by without putting up a fight… They used:
Ridicule – verse 1 tells us that Sanballat “mocked the Jews.”
- You know that old saying, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Yeah… that’s adorable. And completely untrue. Whoever wrote that clearly never had a middle school locker, a sibling with a sharp tongue, or access to social media. The truth is—words do hurt. In fact, Proverbs says that ‘the tongue has the power of life and death’ (Proverbs 18:21). Bones can heal. But cruel words? They can echo for decades. So let’s not pretend words are harmless. They’re not.
- Thomas Carlyle, a British critic and author, once called ridicule “the language of the devil.” And he’s right. Some people can stand bravely against physical threats, but they will collapse under the stinging arrows of ridicule. Shakespeare called ridicule “paper bullets of the brain,” but those bullets can slay many a warrior by eroding their confidence and resolve.
- Sanballat, playing to his audience (the Samarian army – they were there to intimidate) – began to belittle the workers.
He attacked their identity: He started by calling them “these feeble Jews” (v. 2). The word “feeble” means withered, miserable, like cut flowers fading away. He’s calling them weak, insignificant, and incapable. He’s attacking an insecurity that humans are prone to wrestle with… we ask ourselves often, “Am I enough?” He’s hitting them where there vulnerable.
But what he didn’t know is that God often delights in using the “feeble” to accomplish His mighty purposes? As 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 reminds us, the world glories in its wealth and power, but God’s people glory in their poverty and weakness. I love 2 Corinthians 12:9,10… the Lord tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” And what is Paul’s conclusion? Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me…. “When I am weak, then I am strong.”
He attacked their ability and commitment: Sanballat asked three taunting questions: “Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish it in a day?” (v. 2). He’s trying to make them feel inadequate… to question their commitment… to make them feel crazy for trying to take on such a big project… he suggests that what they were trying to do was impossible in any reasonable timeframe. “Will they sacrifice?” – is the job too big? Have you bit off more than you can chew? How will you worship?
He attacked their materials: Tobiah, the Ammonite, chimes in, and takes it ridicule up a notch. He says, “a fox couldn’t climb that wall without it crumbling to the ground!” Like, “your work is so shoddy, so unstable, that even a small animal could demolish it.”
From a solely human point of view… there was probably some truth to their ridicule… the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem was indeed weak and poor, and the project they took on was huge! But Sanballat and Tobiah failed to see the great faith the people had in their great God. When the enemy laughs at what God’s people are doing, it’s often a sign that God is about to bless His people in a wonderful way.
I love how Psalm 2:1-4 puts it… “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.”
The Power of Prayer (Nehemiah 4:4-5)
How did Nehemiah respond to this public ridicule and scorn? He didn’t engage in a shouting match. He didn’t waste his time with petty arguments or even try to defend himself against their insults. He prayed.
- 4-5, “Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.”
We’re at the start of chapter 4… and this is already the third recorded prayer! And it won’t be the last. Prayer was clearly how he lived his life. He recognized that this wasn’t just an attack on him or on the Jews; it was an attack on God’s work and God’s glory.
I know what you’re thinking… that prayer is pretty strong… and it kind of sounds more like a curse than anything… he’s essentially asking God for justice against his enemies… he’s praying that they be brought low.
And if you’re like me… you’re like, “how exactly does that fit with Jesus’ teaching to ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Different commentators have different answers for that… some say that he’s praying as a servant of God, consumed with concern for God’s glory and the vindication of His people. Some say that he isn’t seeking personal revenge, but God’s justice against those who oppose His divine purposes. Others say that Nehemiah was a human and that our God is big and wants our honest emotions, even the ugly ones… So we see the humanity of Nehemiah here… just to be honest… I’m not entirely sure what to do with his prayer… but Nehemiah wants God to triumph over his enemies.
The bigger lesson here is this: don’t let the words of the enemy deter you from the work of God. The things people say may hurt us… we know this… If we spend time pondering the enemy’s words, replaying them in our minds, we give Satan a foothold from which he can launch another attack. I suppose the best thing to do is what Nehemiah did: pray, commit the whole thing to the Lord, share your honest emotions with Him, and then get back to work! He trusted God to be the Provider of justice.
This wasn’t just a verbal assault on these guys, though… first ridicule… then intimidation.
The Threat of Intimidation (Nehemiah 4:7-9)
The ridicule didn’t work. Verse 6 says, “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” The work on the wall continued, diligently, day by day. And that only made the enemies angrier. Their anger escalated from verbal assaults to a full-blown conspiracy and a plot to attack Jerusalem – v. 7-8, “Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. 8 All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.”
Look at the forces arrayed against them: Sanballat and the Samaritans to the north, Tobiah and the Ammonites to the east, Geshem the Arab to the south, and the Ashdodites (Philistines) to the west. That just about covers it… The city was now completely surrounded by hostile forces. Their plan was to catch the Jews by surprise, to “come and fight against Jerusalem and throw them into confusion.”
Again, Nehemiah’s response is a masterclass in faith and action: “But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night” (v.9). This is the essence of “watch and pray” – it’s the powerful combination of faith and works in action. They didn’t just pray and do nothing, passively waiting for God to act. Nor did they just act without praying, relying solely on their own strength. They combined dependence on God with diligent, strategic effort.
Internal Erosion (Nehemiah 4:10)
The external pressures inevitably created significant internal problems. It would be pretty difficult to carry on your work when you’re surrounded by danger and facing the demands of a task that seems utterly impossible.
Verse 10 is key to understanding the mindset of the people of Judah at this point: “Thus in Judah it was said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.”
If that doesn’t sound like discouragement, then I don’t know what does. And boy did it take root… “We are not able” is the rallying cry of all those who take their eyes off the Lord and start looking at themselves and their overwhelming problems. These discouraged Jewish workers were actually agreeing with their enemy, Sanballat, who had said they were feeble and their work was impossible. Sanballat had openly declared the work would stop, and it almost did. Even though Nehemiah turned to prayer immediately, his critic’s words had begun to take shape in the minds of the Israelites.
Nehemiah, however, wouldn’t be overcome by the critics. He went right on with the work. That’s often the best thing to do. Nehemiah got his encouragement from prayer and the promises of God, so the critics didn’t derail him, and then he equips the people.
Not Overcome (Nehemiah 4:11-23)
So, the people were overwhelmed. But Nehemiah’s leadership, rooted in his unwavering trust in God, refused to let them be overcome.
The enemies thought they would surprise Judah, kill them, and put an end to their work. Nearby Jews caught wind of their plans and told Nehemiah… he acts quickly, places people in the right stations, with their families, and arms them with swords, spears, and bows.
Verse 14 marks the crucial turning point in this chapter – “14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”
Confronting Fear with God’s Greatness (Nehemiah 4:11-14)
Fear is contagious, and it paralyzes. Fear and faith cannot live together in the same heart. Jesus himself once said, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). Fearful people discourage others and help bring defeat upon themselves.
Nehemiah himself was not afraid of the enemy, but when he saw that his people were starting to become afraid, he began to act. His first step was strategic:
He took immediate practical steps: He stationed guards at the most conspicuous and vulnerable places on the wall (v. 13). He armed entire families, knowing they would stand together and encourage one another. The enemy could then see that the Jews were prepared to fight.
And then Nehemiah spoke powerfully to the people, encouraging them not to be afraid but to look to the Lord for help. This is the turning point, the heart of the solution for feeling overwhelmed: He reminded them of God’s greatness.
This is crucial. God didn’t provide a flashy, instantaneous miracle here. He didn’t send an army of angels to finish the wall for them. He didn’t suddenly make the rubble disappear. What did He provide? A profound reminder of His faithfulness and His greatness.
Think back to Nehemiah 1. Nehemiah prayed to God based on God’s faithfulness to His promise. Here, in the face of overwhelming odds, all the Israelites had to lean on was the unchanging, steadfast character of God. So there isn’t some crazy miracle; there is simply trust.
And I’d like to boldly remind you to intentionally remind yourselves of the greatness of our God.
Working and Watching (Nehemiah 4:15-23)
When the enemy learned that Jerusalem was armed and ready, that their plot had been discovered, they backed off (v. 15). God had indeed frustrated their plot. Psalm 33:10-11 tells us, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
From here… Nehemiah knew that he couldn’t interrupt the work every time he heard a new rumor or threat, so he set up a brilliant defense plan that solved the problem and allowed the work to continue:
- Half worked, half guarded: (v. 16) – the meant the work could continue and the workers would be protected.
- Tools and weapons in hand: vv. 17-18, “Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. 18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.”
- Even those carrying materials also carried weapons, and the workers on the walls kept their swords at their sides.
Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher, started his famous magazine in 1865 and borrowed his title from Nehemiah, calling the publication “The Sword and the Trowel.” He said it was a record of combat with sin and labor for the Lord.
- United by a single signal: The man with the trumpet stayed close to Nehemiah, ready to give the alarm immediately. No matter what the workers were doing, or where they labored on the wall, they all kept an ear open for the sound of the trumpet.
- Shared sacrifice and leadership by example: Nehemiah spoke words of encouragement to the people again in verses 19 and 20. He reminded them that they were involved in a great work, serving a great God, and rebuilding the walls of a great city. He reminded them that they were not working alone, even if they couldn’t see all their fellow workers on the wall. God was with all of them and would come to their defense.
Nehemiah put a second shift in place and required the workers to stay in Jerusalem at night to help guard the city (v. 22).
Finally, and crucially, Nehemiah not only organized the workers and guards and encouraged them to trust the Lord, but he also set the right kind of example before them (v. 23).
- 23, “So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.”
He was a leader who served and a servant who led. He stayed on the job and was alert at all times. He inspected the city’s defenses every night and made sure that the guards were on duty. He did not serve as a leader who sent them to the front lines while hanging back himself where it was safe; he was right there with them. This is genuine leadership: being called, understanding the mission, modeling it to others, and under pressure, coming up with strategic plans to accomplish the mission. He was “all in.” No comfort. No vanity. No retreat. He was leading with sweat and sacrifice.
The people had a mind to work (v. 6), a heart to pray (v. 9), an eye to watch and an ear to hear (v. 20). And coupled with a godly leader who had the faith to stand, the Lord gave them this incredible victory.
Conclusion
The story of Nehemiah 4 is a powerful testament to a vital truth: in the work of God, adversity is not a sign of God’s absence, but often a sign that God is work and the enemy is threatened. Satan wants to use problems as weapons to destroy the work, but God uses them as tools to build His people. Charles Spurgeon once said, “God had one son without sin, but he never had a son without trial.”
This is a reality of life this side of eternity… We will be overwhelmed at times. Life will bring its share of ridicule, intimidation, internal discouragement, and fear. That is the reality of living in a fallen world and pursuing God’s purposes. But the promise of Nehemiah 4, for individuals and for us as the Church, is that we do not have to be overcome.
From Nehemiah 4… what keeps us from moving from overwhelmed to overcome?
- Keep your eyes fixed on God’s greatness, not on your problems. As Nehemiah reminded them, “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.” If we fear the Lord, we do not need to fear the enemy. When the people heard the threats and mockery of their enemies, Nehemiah didn’t respond by minimizing the danger. Instead, he lifted their gaze. The antidote to fear is not denial—it’s perspective. If we stand in awe of God, we won’t tremble before man. Fear shrinks when faith in God’s greatness grows. The more we fix our eyes on His character—His sovereignty, power, justice, and love—the smaller our enemies and problems appear.
- Pray diligently and act strategically. Combine your faith with your work. Trust in God and seek His will… and do not sit idly by without putting any skin in the game yourself. Nehemiah shows us that faith is not passive. “We prayed to our God and set a guard” (v. 9). It’s not either/or—it’s both/and. We don’t just trust God to work while we sit on our hands; we trust God as we put on the armor, pick up the tools, and step into obedience. Are there places in your life where you’re “praying” but not “guarding”? Waiting, but not working? Maybe it’s time to pick up the trowel and the sword.
- Refuse to be distracted by the enemy’s tactics. Don’t allow their words or plots to get into your system and poison your resolve. Commit it to the Lord and get back to the work He’s called you to. The enemy’s goal was clear: sow fear, doubt, and division. Discouragement is one of Satan’s sharpest darts. But Nehemiah modeled something crucial—he heard the threats, took them to God, and then got back to work. He didn’t stew in anxiety. He stayed focused. When the voices of critics, inner doubts, or external threats get loud—what do you do? Do NOT spiral… submit it to the Lord and press on! This is a Philippians 3: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead… I press on.”
- Stand together as a community. Each of us has a part to play, and together, we are stronger against opposition. We are in this together, and God is with all of us. Nehemiah stationed people by families (v. 13) and armed them as they worked. Everyone had a role. If isolation is a vulnerability, then unity is a fortress. God’s people are meant to build together and battle together. The Christian life was never meant to be solo. This is the church in action—the body working in harmony. When one suffers, all suffer; when one rejoices, all rejoice. Who are you building alongside? Who knows your burdens? Who’s got your back in battle? Church isn’t a place to attend—it’s a people to belong to.
- Trust in God’s faithfulness, even when there’s no flashy miracle. Sometimes, all we have to lean on is the simple, powerful truth that God is faithful to His promises, and He will fight for us. And that is enough. There was no fire from heaven in Nehemiah 4. No walls crumbled by trumpet blasts. Just people working, sweating, praying—and God being faithful. Sometimes, God’s provision looks like strength to keep showing up. You don’t need signs and wonders to be confident God is with you. His Word is enough. His track record is trustworthy. His presence is promised.
This is the call for us as followers of Christ: to be “steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). He is with us. He works through us. Your labor is not in vain. Will you press on as you remember the Lord, who is great and awesome?