Stay on the Wall

Nehemiah’s story in chapter 6 might be the most relatable part of the whole book. He’s almost finished rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall—an impossible task completed in record time—and just when he’s about to hang the doors and call it done, his enemies launch one final attack.

They don’t come with swords or armies this time. They come with distractions.

Sanballat and Geshem send a message: “Come and let us meet together.” Sounds harmless enough, maybe even diplomatic. But Nehemiah knows better. He says, “They intended to do me harm.” So he replies with one of the most powerful lines in Scripture:

“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

— Nehemiah 6:3

That single sentence shows a leader with spiritual clarity. Nehemiah knows what God called him to do, and he refuses to be pulled away by pressure, gossip, or fear. His enemies demand the same meeting four times, and four times he gives the same answer: I can’t come down.

We need that same kind of focus today. God has given each of us a “wall” to build—whether that’s raising kids, serving the church, loving a neighbor, building a business with integrity, or leading a ministry. But the moment you start doing something meaningful, the distractions multiply.

They may not be named Sanballat or Tobiah, but they whisper the same message: Come down. Stop what you’re doing. Worry about what people think. Defend yourself. Protect your reputation. Play it safe.

Nehemiah shows us a better way. He doesn’t get drawn into arguments. He doesn’t panic over rumors. When Sanballat sends an open letter full of false accusations—claiming Nehemiah is plotting a rebellion—Nehemiah simply says, “No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own mind.”

That’s the power of integrity. When your private life and your public life match, you don’t have to chase every lie or fear every opinion. Integrity becomes your shield.

But even Nehemiah felt the pressure. In verse 9 he admits his enemies were trying to make him afraid, hoping his “hands would drop from the work.” So what does he do? He prays a short, simple prayer:

“But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

That’s it. No long speech, no drama—just a quiet cry for courage. When fear creeps in and strength runs low, that’s a prayer worth borrowing. Lord, strengthen my hands. Strengthen them to stay faithful when criticism stings. Strengthen them to keep building when the work feels heavy. Strengthen them to choose integrity over convenience.

In the end, Nehemiah’s faithfulness pays off. Verse 15 says, “So the wall was finished… in fifty-two days.” And verse 16 drives home the real point: “They perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

That’s the ultimate goal—not applause, not success, but worship. God did what no one thought was possible, and everyone knew He deserved the glory.

When the wall was finally finished, Nehemiah didn’t throw a ribbon-cutting ceremony; he appointed gatekeepers, singers, and Levites. Before he celebrated the wall, he restored the worship.

That’s a good reminder for us too. God doesn’t bless our work so we can relax—He blesses it so we can worship. Every accomplishment is an invitation to turn our eyes back to Him.

So whatever “wall” you’re building right now, don’t come down. Stay focused. Keep your integrity. Pray for strength. Let fear fall away and let faith rise up.

And when the work is finished—when God brings you through—make sure the first thing you do is lift your hands in worship to the One who helped you build.