Dream Big. Nehemiah 4:1-6; 6:15-16.

Set big goals. But accept the fact that you will hear discouraging voices. Expect it.

Put discouragement on your to-do list, so you can scratch a line through it when it happens. 

Because it WILL happen. People will say it can’t be done. They will tell you to quit, that you’re wasting your time, that you have the wrong dreams. They will accuse you of pride, of being unrealistic, of imagining a future for yourself that you do not deserve and will never attain. They will shake their head and call you naïve for entertaining childish dreams.

In fact, people are so good at serving up a meal of discouragement (which they feed themselves every day), that only the most outrageous commitment will get you to your goal.

When Nehemiah led the charge to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, his enemies did everything they could to stop him.

“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews … and said, ‘What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it?’ … Then Tobiah the Ammonite said, ‘Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!’” Nehemiah 4:1-3.

But Nehemiah prayed and the crews kept working. 

“So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working” Nehemiah 4:6. 

What helped them persevere? Their WILL.  “The people had the will to keep working.” Never give up!

Then Nehemiah posted an armed guard, encouraging his workers to carry swords at all times in case of attack—and they continued to work.  Next the enemies began accusing the Israelites of planning a rebellion and used that false accusation to summon Nehemiah to meetings (where he knew they planned to ambush him). Nehemiah ignored each summons and kept on working.

“For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, ‘They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.’  So Nehemiah prayed and kept on working. In the end, the walls were rebuilt in record time:

“The wall was completed in 52 days…. When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God” Nehemiah 6:15-16.

1. Nehemiah began working to achieve an incredible goal.
2. His enemies tried to discourage him.
3. But the people had the WILL to keep working.
4. His enemies redoubled their efforts to discourage Nehemiah.
5. Nehemiah prayed and kept moving forward.
6. Finally, Nehemiah achieved his God-given goal, and his enemies were intimidated and lost confidence because they knew God had done something amazing.

Dream big but expect discouragement. Pray, work hard, and NEVER GIVE UP.

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