Attack after attack has been laid on Nehemiah over the past couple of months, and nothing has broken his determination to see the final product. His resolve is strong and unbreakable because he knows the good that will come from completing his assignment. Nehemiah is passionate, meaning that he is being driven by intense devotion to his project. His work ethic, and having the “heart and mind” to get the job done have paid off, and the wall is almost complete. The enemy only has a few last chances to stop the work; and even if they were to stop the work, so much would be done already it would have little to no effect.
Now Nehemiah’s enemies developed a new plan that would surely work to destroy his plan once and for all. (Nehemiah 6:6-9) They planned to label him a traitor to the king, and smear his good name to all. His enemies claimed that they knew he was trying to overthrow the kingdom, despite the fact that this wasn’t true at all. Often accusations come at us while we are in our stand. The enemy loves to make us question our own motives and doubt ourselves; but what the enemy loves more is for others to cause this to happen. Destroying you and destroying your trust in someone else is pure evil joy for the enemy.
This attack almost always comes from our spouse themselves, or rather, the enemy working through our spouse (remember who we fight against!) Accusations that are unfounded and even completely unbelievable fly at us and cause us to become defensive and aggressive as we are backed into a corner. It is worse when these accusations question our character, or cause us to see fault in ourselves that isn’t really there. Sometimes these attacks are placed directly to us, and sometimes they are spread like gossip to others we love or trust in order to attempt to corrupt those relationships as well. We MUST learn to react as Nehemiah chose to react when he was faced with these false accusations.
I replied to him, No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own heart and mind. For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, Their hands will be so weak that the work will not be done. But now strengthen my hands! Nehemiah 6:8-9
- Sift the truths from the lies. Nehemiah knew that the accusations being thrown at him were not true. Search your heart and pray if you have any doubts. Some accusations may be based in partial truths, but most accusations are coming from a desire to hurt you.
- Recognize the source of these accusations. Nehemiah recognized that his enemies were inventing these things from their own minds and hearts, and they were not founded on true knowledge or wisdom. The source of non-truths is in the father of lies, Satan.
- Acknowledge the purpose of the accusation. Nehemiah saw that the purpose was to frighten him. How do you feel when someone falsely accuses you? Negative emotions are detrimental to us, but this is the reason the enemy wants to throw them at us! He further stated that he knew they were saying these things so he would just give up in fear, unable to continue the good work he had started.
- Pray for strength and stamina. Nehemiah prayed that God would strengthen his hands. You are almost through this, just pray for the stamina to keep going, and trust that He will get you through it.