Overcoming Resistance: Lessons from Nehemiah

Resistance is inevitable whenever you step into purpose. Whether you’re building a business, healing from your past, or stepping out in faith, opposition will come. It might look like rejection, delays, betrayal, criticism or self-doubt, however resistance is rarely a sign to stop. More often, it’s confirmation that you’re on the right track and you should keep going.

The Oxford Dictionary states that resistance is “the use of force or violence to oppose someone or something.” If you are experiencing opposition in your life, Nehemiah’s story is a blueprint for how to push through resistance with faith, focus, and resilience.

I’ve Been There.

In 2019, just before the pandemic hit, I was stepping into a new season. I’d just bought my first home, launched my first business, and was promoted at work. On paper, it looked like favour. But beneath the surface, it opened the door to tension in friendships, betrayal, unexpected delays, and even spiritual attacks, with my business page being hacked.

Sometimes, resistance doesn’t come from obvious enemies, it comes from people you love. People who don’t see what God showed you. And it hurts. You start to question, Did I hear God wrong?

But here’s the truth:

A thief doesn’t break into an empty house.

The enemy attacks what threatens him.

Nehemiah Faced Resistance Too.

Nehemiah was doing what God called him to do. He was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. As soon as he started, resistance came from every side. His enemies mocked, lied, conspired, and tried to distract him. But he didn’t back down.

Instead, he responded with prayer, planning, and persistence. He stayed on the wall. He kept building. And the wall was completed in just 52 days.

Lessons from Nehemiah on Overcoming Resistance.

1. Start With Prayer and Fasting.

“Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying [constantly] before the God of heaven.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭-

Nehemiah fasted and prayed before he did anything else. That is where his clarity and confidence came from. This is a starting point for you and me too. 

You don’t have to rush into battle unarmed. Let your strength come from intimacy with God.

2. Expect Opposition.

“When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it caused them great displeasure that someone had come to see about the welfare and prosperity of the Israelites.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭-

Sanballat and Tobiah were disturbed as soon as Nehemiah began building the wall. Sometimes when we face resistance and opposition, it’s harder to deal with as it is unexpected. However, Nehemiah didn’t take it personally, he expected it.

Resistance doesn’t always mean something is wrong. It often means you’re doing something right and this is the reason why you’re being resisted in the first place.

3. Stay Focused.

“[And Nehemiah prayed] Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their taunts on their own heads. Give them up as prey in a land of captivity….So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart to work.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬, ‭6‬ ‭-

Sanballat laughed at Nehemiah and the people, calling them weak and mocking their efforts by saying, “Who do they think they are, trying to rebuild this?” Tobiah jumped in too saying, the wall was so flimsy that even a fox could knock it down. We see that Nehemiah didn’t argue. He prayed, then got back to work.

You cannot let mockery or discouragement distract you from building your wall. Let your work speak louder than their words.

4. Pray and Plan. 

“But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭-

Nehemiah was spiritually aware and strategically prepared.

Faith and wisdom go hand in hand. Make sure that you cover what you are building in prayer, but also make sure you’re also ready with a plan.

5. Refuse to Be Intimidated.

“But I said, ‘Should a man like me flee [in fear and hide]? Should someone like me enter the temple [for sanctuary] to save his life? I will not go.’”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭-

When pressured to hide, Nehemiah stood his ground. Courage means staying in position even when it is uncomfortable.

6. Build Resilience.

“So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to [meet with] you?’ They sent word to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same way.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭-

Nehemiah’s enemies tried to pull him away from what he was building, but he replied, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”

Do not come down from your wall. Protect what God asked you to build with everything. This is what builds resilience. 

7. Maintain Integrity in the midst of false accusations. 

“I sent a message to him, saying, ‘Such things as you are saying have not been done; you are inventing them in your own mind.’ For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, ‘They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.’ But now, [O God,] strengthen my hands.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭-

When false accusations came, Nehemiah didn’t argue. He told the truth and prayed for strength.

You don’t need to defend your name. God will do that for you. All you need to do is to maintain your integrity.

8. Finish the Work.

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about it, and all the [Gentile] nations around us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognised that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

– Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ –

Despite opposition, the wall was finished. God’s hand was clearly on it.

Perseverance brings glory to God. Your endurance tells a story of the power of God’s grace.

Final Encouragement

If you’re facing resistance right now, dont let it stop you. Keep building. Keep showing up. Even when it’s quiet. Even when it’s hard. Even when no one claps. 

God sees everything and He is backing you. There is a harvest on the other side of resistance.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

– Galatians 6:9 –

You’re not alone in this. If this post spoke to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and let’s encourage each other. And if you know someone who needs this reminder too, share it with them. Let’s keep showing up together.

Stay blessed and encouraged,

Nkechi

xoxo