Advancing Despite Opposition

Have you started on a new project, a new task, a new opportunity with great enthusiasm and determination and then realised that not everyone is for you and with you? Have you faced opposition and discouragement from forces actively working against you? Often when we embark on a new pursuit to glorify God in our life, we can be sure that opposition and discouragement will rise up around us. The enemy does not like it when we are actively pursuing our assignment from the Lord and he mounts up opposition and works through people and situations around us to discourage and discredit us. We should not be surprised by this and lose heart and stop believing in the assignment that we have embarked on, but instead we need to keep advancing despite the opposition. What are some strategies to overcome opposition that comes against you? Let’s glean some valuable and timeless lessons from the life of Nehemiah who overcame immense opposition and undertook the valiant task of rebuilding the ruined walls of Jerusalem!

Around 445 BC, Nehemiah was working as a cup bearer in the palace of the persian king, King Artaxerxes when he hears of the devastation in Jerusalem and that the walls of Jerusalem needed repair. A burden to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and protect this city in Judah against the enemies rises within Nehemiah. Nehemiah is deeply saddened that even the king notices and asks him the reason for his sadness. Nehemiah works up the courage to request permission from King Artaxerxes to journey to Jerusalem to help rebuild it’s ruined walls. Nehemiah not only receives permission but also divine favor and protection! He received an escort for safe passage, documents that guaranteed the assistance of Judah’s persian officials and also building materials! Am sure that Nehemiah knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this was the Lord’s hand guiding him to accomplish the important task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. So Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem with gusto to do this task.
Nehemiah 2:17-18
¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” ¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

From this point on, Nehemiah faced mounting opposition. He faced mockery and insults, uncovered plans for an armed attack, a plot to murder him and there was more intimidation in terms of an open letter charging him of treason! When you face this level of opposition and intimidation, it is easy to pack up and leave. Why bother and why endure this level of persecution when all you want to do is the right thing and honor God? Nehemiah did not pack up and leave and give into this intimidation. Instead, he knew that God had called him to do this work and He pressed in all the more into God! He knew that God was with him and would fight for him!
Nehemiah 4:13
¹³ Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. ¹⁴ After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

We not only need to know that God is for us, we also need to take action! We need to fight too against the spiritual forces of oppression and take authority and stand firm against the enemy. We need to refuse to be intimidated and instead be resolute and determined to complete the assignment that the Lord has given us. Nehemiah kept rebuilding the wall and fought his enemies at the same time! He equipped people on his team to have weapons to fight the enemy in one hand while they rebuilt the ruins with the other. We too need to do both – build and fight! We need to work on our business and fight for it, we need to build our families and relationships and fight for it, we need to build that dream that God has given us and fight for it till we see it accomplished!
Nehemiah 4:16-18
¹⁶ From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, ¹⁸ and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

The enemy, the devil is the ultimate bully and he does not stop working against us. This should not discourage us but instead encourage us knowing that this means that whatever we are working on and our lives are even more strategic and important in the kingdom and that’s why there is opposition to stop. We need to stand strong and firm in the face of opposition and fight. With God on our side, the enemy will flee and we will be able to accomplish the task that God called us to do for His glory!
Ephesians 6:10-13
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² 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. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

You may be facing mounting opposition, discouragement and ridicule today. Do you feel like giving up because of all the pressure that is against you? God does not want you to give up. His promise to you is that He is with you in the battle. He will come against the enemy if you just put on your spiritual armor and take up your position in battle. You can rebuild the ruins and succeed. The walls of Jerusalem were in ruins for 114 years. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall in just 52 days while other Jews were trying to rebuild this wall for 72 years! If God has called you to the assignment, there is divine provision, favor and acceleration to complete the task God has given you! Don’t quit – instead build and fight your opposition with God’s power and authority just like Nehemiah did! When you do this, you will advance and accomplish His will despite any opposition that rises against you!
Isaiah 59:19b
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.