For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.”  But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemia 6:9

To get a glimpse at the context of the previous verse, the wall around Jerusalem was close to being complete.  A few enemies of Judah in nearby areas were trying to discourage this as they did not want to see the Jews prosper so close to their own lands.  The Jews were still in captivity, but the king gave Nehemiah permission, complete with officers and horsemen as escorts, to rebuild Jerusalem as well as its walls.

Of course, the neighboring rulers did not see this as a good thing for themselves.  They mocked the Jews when they began to build, and even sent letters to Nehemiah stating that the Jews were planning to rebel as a result of their wall being rebuilt.

Nehemiah went to God for his strength.  May I do the same when I am overcome with adversity, doubt, and resistance from the enemy’s attempt to stop the message of the gospel.  Thankfully, God is in control of all things.  I trust in Him alone to preserve the grace message.