Have you ever excitedly started a new project and halfway in wondered, Whatever made me think I could do this anyway? This is beyond my abilities! I’ll never get done. The halfway point can be hard. The initial excitement disappears, the project looms larger than anticipated, unpredicted problems pile on, fatigue weighs in, and persevering seems impossible.
Replacing the entire downstairs floor after a slab leak took several months. I cut the tiles and Clay laid them!
And for kingdom-building projects, at the halfway point our enemy steps up attacks.
This is what happened in the Old Testament book Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem to help the Israelites annoyed their enemies. When he rallied the people together to begin rebuilding protective walls, these enemies mocked and ridiculed them. But Nehemiah was convinced God would give them success so they kept working.
Now that really riled their enemies. They ridiculed the builders even more, telling them they were too feeble to work, their materials were crummy, they’d never finish, and even if they did, the wall was so shoddy it would tumble if a fox hopped on it.
Nehemiah responded with prayer: “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads” (Neh. 4:4). And he kept the workers persevering.
The Halfway Point
But at the halfway point, the builders became tired and discouraged because the rubble was so great they could hardly work. Meanwhile, their furious enemies threatened to kill them!
That’s how it is when we’re completing a work to build God’s kingdom. At the point of natural fatigue, the devil steps up spiritual attacks. He knows our weaknesses and that’s where he wages war.
Nehemiah knew the situation was grave so he slowed down the work. Half the people worked while the rest guarded the builders. He posted guards at vulnerable spots. Nehemiah arranged it that anyone who was attacked could sound a trumpet so the others could help fight. He posted guards at night and instructed everyone to sleep in their clothes with their weapons at hand. And he encouraged the people by telling them not to be afraid of the enemies, but remember the Lord and fight for each other.
Steps for Persevering
Personally, I’m at the halfway point on some projects, so I’ll keep persevering past halfway like Nehemiah by making sure I:
- Remember that thoughts such as, You’re inadequate, you’ll never get it done, and this isn’t really good enough to do the job anyway can be the enemy’s intimidation tactics
- Guard carefully areas in which I know I’m most vulnerable
- Ask friends to pray for me and thereby fight with me
- Listen to worship music before bedtime
- Arm myself with the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God
- Tell myself:
Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.
Nehemiah 4:14
Related Posts on Persevering
Books You Might Like
These are Amazon affiliate links, but are books which I highly recommend.
- Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament: A Creative Devotional Study Experience by me with Pam Farrel and Karla Dornacher: This explains the history surrounding Nehemiah and the rest of the Old Testament
- Hand Me Another Brick: Timeless Lessons on Leadership by Chuck Swindoll: Easy to read with great insights
Edited 10/24/19. Originally published 12/20/11.