TITLE:   LEARN HOW TO HANDLE DISTRACTIONS IN LIFE

TITLE:   LEARN HOW TO HANDLE DISTRACTIONS IN LIFE

SCRIPTURE:

“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” 4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.  6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.  7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.  10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” 11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” 12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:1—14 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            Nehemiah set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He had a grand vision of bringing together the people to rebuild the wall. However, every vision, no matter how grand and great, will always encounter challenges.  There will be criticism, opposition, ridicule, interruptions, disruptions, and distractions.  Lessons I have learned in my journey and vision of what I want to do often encounter challenges similar to those of Nehemiah.  I observe a few life lessons from Nehemiah’s response to distractions:

• Expect criticism and ridicule from people.  Sandballat tried to shame Nehemiah before his associates and the army of Samaria. 
• Expect growing criticism.  I learned not only to expect criticism but also to grow criticism.  Others will join forces to continue to bring discouragement. 
• Turn your focus on God and not on the distraction…Nehemiah turned to prayer to ask God to intervene and deal with his critics’ distraction.
• Keep pressing forward despite the distraction…Nehemiah uses the distraction to fuel their determination to build the wall. 
• Expect some of your team to be weakened by the criticism and become distracted.  Nehemiah’s friend says, The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall. 
• Watch out for INTERNAL criticism.  Sometimes, it is not the criticism from outside that doomed a vision.  It is often the people who are weakened by the criticism that are part of the team that are potential vision killers.  The insiders, the people of Judah, brought bad news.  The Jews who lived near the project came and told us TEN TIMES OVER, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us!” 
• Learn to encourage yourself and your team to reset their focus on God. After looking things over, Nehemiah stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people… “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
• Learn to recast the purpose and the goal of the vision.  Where there is no vision, people perish. 

APPLICATION:

            I am so grateful for this reminder.  It is easy to be distracted and defeated when we see things seem to be crumbling everywhere.  Today, I will continue to apply this truth to my life as I push forward to see Good’s vision be brought to fruition.  I am committed to Jesus’ vision, no matter the consequences.  I want to see God honored by finishing what he called me and for those who serve with me to be fulfilled.

PRAYER:

            Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me to keep my eyes on you when things are challenging.  Thank you for teaching me through your servant Nehemiah that distractions and challenges will come, but I must keep my eyes on you at all times.  Please help me to be an encourager to those who seem to have lost sight of your purpose and vision in their lives as well.  Help me to always honor you in everything that you called me to do.  In Jesus name, Amen!