I’m part of a team at my church who put on a big event each year. We spend eleven months planning all the details to make sure it’ll be great fun for everyone who comes along. We choose the date and venue. We organise the food, the stalls, the games, the music, the entertainment—everything! As the day draws near, we make lots of flyers and adverts to make sure everyone in our neighbourhood gets invited along.

When it’s all over, we try to get lots of feedback. We want to know what went well, and what didn’t. But often the criticisms are hard to hear. After all our hard work, the negative feedback can make us want to give up.

Nehemiah had critics too as he led a team to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. They actually made fun of Nehemiah and those working alongside him saying, “Even a fox climbing up on it would break down [your] wall of stones!” (NEH. 4:3). His reaction to his critics helps me handle my own: instead of feeling down or trying to ignore their comments, he turned to God for help. Instead of getting angry, he asked God to hear the way His people were being treated and to defend them (V.4). After trusting the situation to God, he continued to help the people work steadily on the wall “with all their heart” (V.6).

Nehemiah’s example can help us learn to not be distracted by criticism. When we’re laughed at or put down in any way, instead of sulking or getting angry, we can prayerfully ask God to defend us so we can continue living for Him.

By: Kirsten Holmberg

To Pray About . . .

Thank You, God, for being my defender. Help me to think carefully about the good and bad in the things people say about me. But mainly, help me to trust You and to listen to You before anyone else.