Day 5 of 6 — Pioneering Faith. About 3 minutes.
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build…
Nehemiah 2:20
Everything seemed to be going well.
Nehemiah shared the burden.
The people responded.
They strengthened their hands to work.
Then verse 19 begins with one word. But.
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem heard about the work and laughed them to scorn.
The moment God’s people decided to build, resistance appeared.
We sometimes assume that if God is truly leading us, everything should go smoothly. But Scripture gives us a very different picture.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:9, For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
He had an open door and opposition at the same time.
Nehemiah did too.
Resistance did not automatically mean retreat.
When the opposition came, Nehemiah did not point to his plans, the king’s letters, the timber he had gathered, or the people standing beside him.
He pointed to God.
The God of heaven, he will prosper us.
That was Nehemiah’s confidence.
Not that we are strong enough.
Not that we have enough resources.
Not that he had everything figured out.
God is able.
That is the heart of pioneering faith.
Faith attempts something greater, not because we believe we are great, but because we believe God is able.
There will be moments when the work God puts in front of us feels bigger than we are.
Those moments remind us where our confidence belongs.
Jesus said in John 15:5, for without me ye can do nothing.
Faith still works. Faith still prepares. Faith still obeys. But faith never confuses our responsibility with God’s power.
Maybe the need in front of you feels bigger than you.
Maybe you do not have every answer.
Neither did Nehemiah.
The question is not whether you are enough.
The question is whether God is able.
And because He is, we can strengthen our hands, rise up, and build.
Growth principle: Pioneering faith attempts something greater, not because we are great, but because our God is able.
Take it with you: Name one situation that feels bigger than your ability. Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, specifically remind yourself today of what God can do.
Pause and pray: Lord, the work before me is sometimes greater than my strength. Help me do faithfully what You have given me to do while keeping my confidence completely in You. The God of heaven will prosper His work. Amen.
From Sunday’s message: Faith That Attempts Something Greater (Nehemiah 1-2)
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