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Nehemiah 4:10 - How to Overcome Discouragement.

Nehemiah 4:10 (NLT) Then the people of Judah 
began to complain, The workers are getting 
tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We 
will never be able to build the wall by 
ourselves.  

INTRODUCTION

Preparations for defense and the 
continuation of the work reversed the effects of 
terrorism and demoralized the enemies. Obstacles and 
foes can make us work smarter and live wiser or 
make us give up our purpose and our way of 
living. If they accomplish the latter, they have won 
even if they haven't actually attacked us. But IF 
WE ADJUST OUR WAY OF LIVING WISELY WHILE 
CONTINUING RESOLUTELY TO LIVE UNDER GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS, 
THE OPPOSITION WILL FAIL. [Life Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Discouragement is curable. When I get 
discouraged, I head straight to the book of Nehemiah. 
This great leader of ancient Israel understood 
there were four reasons for discouragement. 
   First, you get FATIGUED. You simply get 
tired as the laborers did in Nehemiah 4:10: 
Then the people of Judah said, The work crews 
are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We 
cant continue to rebuild the wall (GW). 
   Human beings wear out. You cant burn 
the candle at both ends. If youre 
discouraged, you may not have to change anything major in 
your life. You may just need rest! Sometimes the 
most spiritual thing you can do is go to bed. 
   Second, you get FRUSTRATED. Nehemiah says 
there was rubble all around, so much so that it 
was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall. 
Do you have rubble in your life? Have you 
noticed that anytime you start doing something new, 
the rubble (the frustrations that keep you from 
working toward your goal) starts piling up?  
   If you dont clean it out periodically, 
it will stop your progress. You cant avoid 
it, so you need to learn to recognize it and 
dispose of it quickly so that you dont lose focus 
on your goals. 
   Third, you THINK YOUVE FAILED. 
Nehemiahs people were unable to finish their task as 
quickly as originally planned, and, as a result, 
their confidence collapsed. They thought, We 
were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this 
wall. 
   But you know what I do when I dont 
reach a goal on time? I just set a new goal. I 
dont give up. Everybody fails; everybody does 
foolish things.  
   The issue is not that you failed; its 
how you respond to your failure.  
   Do you give in to self-pity? Do you start 
blaming other people? Do you start complaining that 
its impossible? Or do you refocus on Gods 
intentions and start moving again? 
   Finally, you GIVE IN TO FEAR. Giving in 
to fear leads to discouragement. Nehemiah 4 
suggests that the people most affected by fear are 
those who hang around negative people. To control 
the negative thoughts in your life, avoid 
negative people as much as you can.  
   Maybe youre discouraged because of 
fear and you say, I cant handle this. 
Its too much responsibility. Maybe its the 
fear of criticism. Or you think you dont 
deserve to succeed. Fear will destroy your life if 
you let it. But YOU CAN CHOOSE TO RESIST THE 
DISCOURAGEMENT BY SAYING, GOD, HELP ME GET MY EYES OFF 
THE PROBLEM AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND KEEP MY 
EYES ON YOU. 
   YOU DONT HAVE TO STAY STUCK IN YOUR 
DISCOURAGEMENT. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT THE REASON 
FOR IT, ADDRESS IT, AND START MOVING FORWARD IN 
CONFIDENCE. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Joshua 1:9 - Courage in Calamity: The 
Dynamics. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160305-1530.html 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20120410-1420.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE