Setback: I Want to Give Up
“Then I prayed, ‘Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked You to anger here in front of the builders.’ At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.”
Nehemiah 4:4-6 (NLT)
One category of setback we all face is when we become discouraged.
How do we move forward when we are facing a setback of discouragement? Nehemiah in the Old Testament was given the huge task of rebuilding the ruined walls of Jerusalem. Jerusalem and Israel had been conquered and defeated by invading armies. The walls lay in ruins.
Part of God’s plan to bring hope to the people in captivity (like Nehemiah), and also in Israel was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It was definitely an uphill battle. First, Nehemiah had to get permission from his boss King Artaxerxes to leave, travel home, and begin work on repairing the walls. Next, he faced opposition to the project from enemies in Jerusalem.
Along the way, he faced several setbacks that can cause discouragement. Let’s look at three setbacks Nehemiah faced that can also cause us discouragement for us today:
1. When something takes longer than expected.
“Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved…’” Nehemiah 4:10a (NLT)
When the situation seems overwhelming it is easy to get fatigued. You wear out. You want to give up.
Nehemiah faced a mess. There was so much to do, and it was worse than he thought it would be. It was a frustrating start to the project.
2. When we start to doubt our abilities.
…We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” Nehemiah 4:10b (NLT)
The people with Nehemiah looked at the wall and the work ahead of them, and basically said: “No way will this ever happen.” They were overwhelmed and ready to accept failure.
3. When there is strong opposition.
“Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, ‘Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.’ The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, ‘They will come from all directions and attack us!’” Nehemiah 4:11-12 (NLT)
The rebuilders of the wall faced enemies that threatened them and tried to stop the construction. When opposition shows up it is easy to stop, quit, and give up.
So, what should we do when we feel like giving up? What are the lessons we all need when we face the setback of discouragement? Here’s what Nehemiah did:
Reorganize whatever is not working.
“So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.” Nehemiah 4:13 (NLT)
“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
What is it in your life that doesn’t seem to be working? Ask God to clarify His direction and refocus your life toward His plans and direction. Ask God to help you toward what is meaningful and fruitful.
Refocus on God.
“Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid of the enemy! …’” Nehemiah 4:14a (NLT)
“...Remember the Lord who is great and glorious; fight for your friends, your families, and your homes!” Nehemiah 4:14b (NLT)
“When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went to You in Your holy Temple.” Jonah 2:7 (TLB)
Take a Next Step toward a season of refocusing on God by joining a Bible study group, reading the Bible each day, finding a place to help out at church or in the community, or being generous. Bottom line - refocus spiritually.
Fight the discouragement.
“…Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” Nehemiah 14:b (NLT)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 (NIV)
Opposition will come. It is not a matter of if, but when. Whenever we do God’s work and His plan for rebuilding it will require risk and faith. And we may face the setback of discouragement.
Nehemiah’s setbacks give us a great example of praying like it depends on God and working as if it depended on himself and his team.
My Prayer For You
My prayer for you is that when you face the setback of opposition and discouragement, you will face it with determination, grace, and perseverance because we have great things to do for God!