November 3, 2020 By Scott F. Thomas.
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews…”. Nehemiah 4:1
While a group of frogs were traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep it was, they crowded around the pit and told the two frogs they should give up and die because there was no hope of making it out. The two frogs ignored what the others were saying and decided to try and jump out of the pit.
During their efforts the frogs at the top of the pit were still saying that they should give up, they would never make it out. One of the frogs took heed to what they said and gave up, falling to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could though the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop and die.
Eventually he made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Didn’t you hear us?”
The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
The character Nehemiah, in the Bible, relates to the deaf frog. In his attempt to complete the work of God, rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, there were those who attempt to discourage him through criticism. In one statement they said that the wall was so weak that if a fox jumped on it, it would fall down. Nehemiah became deaf, so to speak, he ignored the naysayers. Instead he kept building the wall. Also he asked God to help him and his crew by turning the critics insults back on their own heads. Nehemiah 4:4. God helped them and they rebuilt the wall because the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah and the frog were able to accomplish great challenges because they ignored criticism and discouragement. When others speak words of discouragement you have a choice. You may either listen or ignore them. Sometimes it’s best to be like Nehemiah and the frog: become deaf and ignore them. Keep building that area of your life. Replace discouragement with encouragement from the word of God.
Read Nehemiah 4
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Thomas
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