How to Work Through Discouragement, Distractions, and Debris

Devotional

Day 1: Relying on God’s Power, Not Your Own

When we begin serving God, it’s easy to start with excitement and joy, but over time, discouragement and fatigue can set in, especially when we try to serve in our own strength. The enemy wants us to become feeble, withered, and miserable, but God calls us to lay down our own power and rely on His strength. True endurance in the work of God comes not from our own abilities, but from trusting in the power that Christ provides. When we shift from self-reliance to God-reliance, we find renewed strength to keep going, even when we feel like giving up. [13:53]

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Reflection: Where in your service or daily life have you been relying on your own strength instead of God’s? What would it look like to intentionally ask for and depend on His power today?

Day 2: Prayer as the First Response to Opposition

When faced with criticism, discouragement, or attacks, our natural tendency may be to defend ourselves, argue, or give up. Yet, Nehemiah’s example shows us the power of making prayer our first response, not our last resort. Instead of debating with his enemies or forming committees, he took his concerns straight to God, trusting that God would fight his battles. Prayer is the purest expression of our reliance on God, and it is through prayer that we receive the strength, wisdom, and peace needed to persevere in the face of opposition. [16:54]

Nehemiah 4:4-5 (ESV)
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Reflection: When you face criticism or discouragement, do you turn to prayer first? What specific situation can you bring to God in prayer today, trusting Him to handle it?

Day 3: The Battle Belongs to God

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the threats and opposition that surround us, especially when we focus more on our enemies than on God. The people rebuilding the wall stopped working because they believed more in the threats of their enemies than in the promises of God. But Scripture reminds us that the battle is not ours—it is the Lord’s. No matter how many or how powerful the opposition, God is the one who fights for us. Our role is to trust Him, keep working, and let Him handle the rest. [34:04]

2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV)
And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’”

Reflection: What is one battle or challenge you are facing that you need to release to God today, trusting that He will fight for you?

Day 4: Clearing Out the Old to Build the New

Before the wall could be rebuilt, the people had to clear away the debris and rubbish from the old, broken-down wall. In the same way, we cannot build something new for God’s glory on top of old mess, hurts, or unforgiveness. Clearing out the spiritual “rubbish” in our lives—old wounds, grudges, and habits that no longer serve us—is necessary for God to do a new work in us. Though it can be discouraging and hard work, removing what is expired or harmful makes room for God’s fresh blessings and purposes. [39:39]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Reflection: What “old rubbish” in your heart or life do you need to clear out today so that God can build something new in you?

Day 5: Persevering Through Distractions and Attacks

As we make progress in God’s work, the enemy often intensifies his efforts to distract, discourage, and confuse us—especially when we are tired or vulnerable. Sometimes, the attacks are not even real yet, just threats or the potential for trouble, but they can still cause us to stop working and lose focus. God calls us to recognize the true source of these distractions, to close the gaps where the enemy might enter, and to keep our eyes on Him. Even when surrounded and weary, we are called to persevere, trust God’s protection, and keep building until the work is done. [28:58]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Reflection: What distractions or threats are tempting you to give up or lose focus? How can you “close the gaps” and stand firm in faith today?

Sermon Summary

The story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall is a powerful reminder of what it means to persevere in the work God has given us, even when the initial excitement fades and the challenges mount. The people began their work with joy and anticipation, but soon found themselves facing discouragement, distractions, and the debris of the past. These obstacles are not unique to Nehemiah’s time; they are the same challenges we face today as we seek to serve God faithfully.

Discouragement often comes when the enemy attacks our identity and our efforts. Just as Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the Jews, calling them feeble and predicting their failure, we too can be tempted to believe the voices that tell us we are not enough or that our work is in vain. The key is to remember that our strength does not come from ourselves, but from God. When we rely on His power rather than our own, we find the strength to keep going, even when we feel like giving up.

Distractions are another tactic of the enemy. As the gaps in the wall began to close, the opposition intensified, not because the work was failing, but because it was succeeding. The enemy will always try to create confusion and fear, especially when we are making progress. Sometimes, the mere threat of attack is enough to make us stop working and start complaining. But God calls us to recognize the true source of confusion and to respond with prayer and trust, not panic.

Then there is the debris—the old rubbish that must be cleared away before something new can be built. In our lives, this means dealing with past hurts, unforgiveness, and anything that takes up space in our hearts and keeps us from moving forward. Clearing out the old is hard work, but it is necessary if we want to build something lasting for God’s glory.

Through it all, Nehemiah’s example teaches us to pray first, to trust God’s strength, and to keep working with a mind and heart set on God’s faithfulness. Even when surrounded by enemies, even when tired and discouraged, we are called to keep building, knowing that the battle belongs to the Lord and that He is able to bring us through.

Key Takeaways

1. Rely on God’s Power, Not Your Own It is easy to start strong in our own strength, but true endurance comes from depending on God’s power. When we shift from self-reliance to God-reliance, we find the strength to persevere through discouragement and fatigue. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, and it is only by His Spirit that we can accomplish lasting work. [13:53]
2. Recognize and Resist the Enemy’s Distractions The enemy often attacks when we are making progress, using confusion and fear to halt our work. We must be vigilant, discerning the true source of opposition, and refuse to let threats or distractions derail us. Prayer and spiritual focus are our best defenses, keeping us anchored in God’s purpose rather than the enemy’s schemes. [22:25]
3. Clear Out the Old to Make Room for the New Just as the builders had to remove the old rubble before constructing the new wall, we must deal with the debris in our own lives. This means letting go of past hurts, unforgiveness, and anything that hinders our spiritual growth. Only by clearing out the old can we make space for the new work God wants to do in and through us. [38:47]
4. Persevere Through Weariness and Opposition The enemy often intensifies his attacks when we are tired or discouraged, hoping we will give up. But God calls us to keep going, even when we feel surrounded or overwhelmed. Our perseverance is not a sign of our own strength, but of our trust in God’s faithfulness to see us through every trial. [29:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:20] - The Joy of Beginning the Work
[12:18] - Working Through Discouragement
[13:53] - Serving in God’s Power
[15:08] - Weak Materials and True Motivation
[16:26] - Nehemiah’s Prayerful Response
[18:31] - The Gift of a Mind to Work
[20:24] - Satan’s Tactics: Discouragement and Passivity
[21:09] - Working Through Distractions
[24:43] - Closing the Gaps Against the Enemy
[27:25] - Attacks at Our Weakest Moments
[30:03] - Surrounded by Powerful Enemies
[33:01] - Believing God Over the Enemy
[34:31] - Trusting God in the Storm
[37:03] - Working Through the Debris
[38:47] - Clearing Out the Old
[42:27] - Returning to the Work
[44:05] - Christ’s Example of Perseverance
[57:11] - Invitation and Closing Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Nehemiah 4:1-14 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole chapter, but focus on verses 1-14 for discussion.)

Philippians 4:13 (ESV) — “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV) — “And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”’”

Observation Questions

What were some of the specific ways Nehemiah and the people faced discouragement and opposition as they rebuilt the wall? ([12:18])
According to the sermon, what did the enemies say about the Jews and their work, and how did this affect the workers? ([13:25])
What did Nehemiah do first when he and the people were mocked and threatened? ([16:26])
What was the “debris” or “rubbish” that the people had to deal with before they could continue building, and why was it important to clear it out? ([37:25])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the enemy’s attacks intensified as the gaps in the wall began to close? What does this suggest about spiritual opposition when we are making progress? ([22:25])
The sermon says that discouragement often comes when the enemy attacks our identity and efforts. How does remembering that our strength comes from God (not ourselves) change the way we respond to discouragement? ([13:53])
What does it mean that “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15)? How might this truth have encouraged Nehemiah and the people? ([33:31])
Why is it necessary to clear out “old rubbish” (past hurts, unforgiveness, etc.) before God can build something new in our lives? ([38:47])

Application Questions

The people started the work with excitement, but soon became discouraged and tired. Can you think of a time when you started something for God with joy, but lost motivation when things got hard? What helped you (or could have helped you) keep going? ([11:53])
The sermon talks about relying on God’s power instead of our own. Are there areas in your life or ministry where you are trying to “push through” in your own strength? What would it look like to shift to relying on God’s strength this week? ([13:53])
The enemy used distractions and the threat of attack to stop the work. What are some distractions or “threats” in your life right now that are keeping you from serving God wholeheartedly? How can you respond with prayer and trust instead of panic? ([22:25])
The “debris” in the story represents old hurts, unforgiveness, or things that take up space in our hearts. Is there any “rubbish” in your life that you need to clear out so God can do something new? What is one step you can take this week to begin that process? ([38:47])
Nehemiah’s first response to opposition was prayer. When you face discouragement or criticism, what is your first response? How can you make prayer your “first resource” instead of your “last resort”? ([16:26])
The people were tempted to believe the enemy’s threats more than God’s promises. Are there any negative voices or lies you are believing about yourself or your work for God? What truth from Scripture can you hold onto instead? ([33:01])
The sermon says that perseverance is not a sign of our own strength, but of our trust in God’s faithfulness. What is one area where you need to persevere right now, and how can the group pray for you to trust God in it? ([29:32])

Sermon Clips

Getting the work started on the wall was a major achievement. But keeping the workers working proved to be a much tougher assignment. Can I tell you, many of us have started the work with excitement and with joy. But somewhere along the line, the Satan has caused us to be stressful in the work. And so we started out with joy. But now it's a struggle to get up and work when it seems like there's challenges in our service. Well, what do you do when you want to work without walking out? [00:11:26]

But you got to serve through his power. The problem is that sometimes we move from his power to our own power. And you wonder why we become feeble in the work. And if we're going to stop becoming feeble, we got to put down our own power. And we got to get back to his power. Because Paul tells us in Philippians 4 and 13, I can do all things through Christ, which gives me my strength. [00:13:53]

Can I tell you, I'm not telling you what I've heard or read, but I'm telling you what I know, that when you trust and rely on his power, there are days when you don't want to fool with folk. There are days you don't want to deal with folk. There are days you want to isolate yourself. But when you trust in his power, he gives you strength to do what you don't want to do. [00:14:26]

Can I tell you, when you lead a ministry, the first sign of pushback, you're ready to quit. That's some weak material. You decide to join the music ministry, the first bad rehearsal, you're ready to walk out. That's some weak material. The first time you're on a committee and they don't like your opinion and you say, I ain't never working no more, that's some weak material. When you realize who you're doing it for, it's not about us, but it's about the glory of God. [00:15:55]

Can I tell you, if you want to walk without walking out, you better have a good prayer life. Come on, come on, y'all better help me. If you want to learn how to walk through your discouragement, you better learn how to call on the name of the Lord. Can I tell you, prayer is the only thing that's going to be able to get you what you need in order of how to work without walking out. [00:16:39]

Nehemiah's response was a great example. He didn't debate. He didn't form a committee. He didn't deal with the enemies directly. All he did was got down on his knees and he took it to God in prayer. How many of you said, I ain't going to deal with my haters, but I'm going to let God fight my battles. I'm not going to worry about what they say about me, but all I'm going to do is pray to the Lord who can handle my haters and my enemies in my walk. [00:17:05]

Prayer was a first resource. And it wasn't a last resort. When times of opposition come, God wants us to rely on him. And the purest way of expressing our reliance on God is through prayer. How do you work through your discouragement? Take it to the Lord. And God will fight your battle. God answered the prayer by giving them a mind to work. A mind to work is a gift from God. [00:18:22]

And can I tell you, when you hook up a mind to work, without church motto, having a heart like Jesus, things can get done. But can I tell you, you got to have a mind to work. And it bothers me when we got a mind to do everything else, but we don't have a mind to work for the Lord. We got a mind to club on Saturday. We got a mind to do our own selfish things. We got a mind to do what we want to do. [00:19:04]

But when it comes to the work of the Lord, we don't want to have a mind to work. Well, the reason why I got a mind to work is I got a mind that he woke me up. I got a mind that I got activities of my limb. I got a mind that I'm in my right mind. I got a mind that I got clothes on my back. I got a mind that he kept me late last night. When I think about the goodness of Jesus and all that he's done for me, my soul cries out hallelujah. [00:19:36]

He doesn't want you to have a mind to work. This is exactly what Satan wants to do. He wants to destroy you by his attacks on his people. The mind is the work, and he wants us to feel defeated. He wants us to be passive. He wants us to be self-focused. He wants us to be discouraged. But I've learned in my line, I can tell Satan, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus. You're not going to tear up what the Lord has brought to me in my life. [00:20:14]

When you're working for the law, Satan is going to try to attack you and create confusion, to give credit where credit is due. Satan will have you think that it's others, people that I can see with my own eyes. But when you know who the culprit is, I don't now look at others as the source of conflict and confusion, but I know it's Satan trying to mess up some stuff in my life. [00:21:31]

Whenever you get folks together, and you're working for the Lord, you best believe that Satan's going to show up at your doorstep and try to create confusion in the work. If you wasn't doing anything, Satan would leave you alone, because he had no reason to bother you because you're not doing anything. But when you're working, Satan is angry, because he says they're drawing closer to the Lord. [00:22:37]

The people were making progress, and Satan didn't like it. Watch this. The people were working, and the enemy got angry. The enemy got angry and conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. If you want to stop the work, create confusion. To work in a confused state. We want everything to be laid out for us, and we don't want to work in confusion. [00:23:13]

But just because of the potential of attack. They stopped working and started complaining to Nehemiah that the enemy is going to attack. And I've learned that when I'm doing right, the enemy is angry and will begin confusion. Now watch this. The gaps were beginning to close. The wall was only halfway high. But they were closing the gaps in order to keep the enemy out. [00:24:16]

When you start, when you start working for the Lord, and you start closing the gaps where the enemy can come in, he gets anxious because now he don't have a way in into your life. When you start closing the gaps with his word, he said, well, I used to have an angle in there. He said, I don't have an angle no more. And so he gets frustrated and anxious that he's not going to have clear access into your life. [00:25:07]

Can I tell you, there's some gaps we got to close in our life so that the enemy can't find his way into our situation. But when you start closing the gaps, the enemy going to start trying to create confusion in order that you keep some gaps open and allow him to get in. Now watch this. When you close the gaps, sometimes, sometimes, God, the enemy gets in because we hadn't finished all of the gaps yet. [00:25:45]

But sometimes the enemy gets in because we open up the gate and we let him come right on in. Sometimes it's the enemy fighting his way in and sometimes we invite him in. But the problem is, whenever you let the enemy in your camp, you can be rest assured that he's not coming there to party. But he's coming there to tear up some stuff. [00:26:17]

The enemy wants you to be tired. That's when he attacks. The enemy ain't gonna wait and attack you when you're at full strength because he know if you're at full strength, he know his attacks will be fruitless. But he gonna wait till you're tired. He gonna wait till you're feeble. He gonna wait till you're withered. He gonna wait till you're miserable. And then he'll start the attack on your life. [00:27:25]

The people had built the wall halfway up. Now this was an accomplishment and a challenge because you would say it's either halfway up or it's halfway empty. And the fact is, the accomplishments was that they got the wall halfway up. They said, we worked it and we got it halfway up. But the challenge is, they still had halfway to go. Y'all missed that. It's an accomplishment to get halfway. But then when you look at it, you say, man, I still got halfway to go. [00:28:03]

That's when he want to put it on you. When you're going through something, that the devil will continue to add more on you. When you haven't got through what you're dealing with yet. Because he know he got you on the ropes. And you ever seen a boxer when he's fighting and he has his opponent on the ropes and it looked like the opponent is getting ready to go down. The enemy don't just stand back and say, let me let him get some rest. [00:28:51]

But when he see the opponent tired, that's when he goes in even harder and he getting more strength trying to tear down the one that's almost on the ropes. And can I tell you, Satan is trying to get you on the rope in order to see you almost getting ready to go down for a TKO. But you better be like Rocky. If he knock you down, you better get back up. If he knock you down, you better find some strength and get back up on your feet and say, I'm still ready to fight another round. [00:29:22]

Nehemiah prayed, but doesn't mean that opposition is going to go away. Instead, it increased. Just because you pray don't mean your enemy is going to walk away. But when you pray, you got more strength. Because just because they recruit all their enemies, I can recruit a savior. To get a full view of what they were facing with, you got to look at the geographical location of their enemies. [00:30:34]

Anytime you do a good work, your enemies will recruit other folk to join in with them and hate on you. And some of y'all say, well, I'm not a recruiter. Because whenever you take mess to somebody else, you have now become a recruiter. If I'm stepping on your toes, just say, ouch, I don't care. I got to preach it like I give it. A lot of times when folks got something against you, they going to try to find other folk against you as well. [00:31:36]

The worst thing you can do as a believer in God is to give more attention to your haters than you do your helper. Let me say that again. The worst thing you can do is to give more attention to your haters than you do your helper. Is there anybody in here to know that God is there to fight your balance? [00:33:13]

God allowed the attack to go on because He was delighted that His people drew closer to Him with a deeper trust than ever before. Somebody in here would testify, My trust in the Lord didn't come from the sunshine, but it came from the storm. Somebody in here testified, It wasn't until the storm that I've learned to trust in Jesus. [00:35:15]

Somebody in here say, It wasn't until I got sick and He healed me that I learned to trust in Him. Somebody say, It wasn't until I got broke and He paid some bills that I learned to trust in the Lord. Somebody in here said, It wasn't until He dealt with my family that I've learned that God can do what He wants to do, how He wants to do it, when He wants to do it, and in the manner He wants to do it. [00:35:40]

Sometimes God will let distractions in your life to get you to trust and draw unto Him more. And the more we try to work in our own power, the more God will show us that we don't have the strength. And I thank God that God has dealt with me in a way that I've learned to trust Him more than ever before. [00:36:06]

I've told you you've got to work through discouragement. I've told you you've got to work through distractions. But then thirdly, you've got to work through your debris. You know what debris is? Debris is rubbish. Verse 10 states, then Judah said, the strength of the laborers is failing. And there is so much rubbish that we're not able to build the wall. [00:37:03]

Can I tell you the work of rebuilding the wall was not only construction, but it was cleaning and hauling away the rubbish. I started to shout right there. He said, you can't build the wall until you first clean up the mess from the old wall. Y'all act like y'all ain't heard me. The ruins of the old wall that was torn down a hundred years early were still laying on the foundation. [00:37:32]

And they said, you can't build nothing secure on top of old mess. Clearing away the rubbish was not an option. It had to be done. The destroyed parts of the wall and the accumulated rubbish had to be cleared away so the walls could be rebuilt upon their foundation. And if they did not do this, the walls wouldn't stand that they say, you're trying to build a new work on some old mess. [00:38:09]

And can I tell you, in our Christian life, nothing much can be built for God's glory unless the rubbish is swept away as well. Can I tell you, taking out the garbage can be discouraging work, but it must be done. And in order for them to build the new wall, they had to get rid of the rubbish from the old wall that'd been torn down. [00:38:57]

Can I tell you, when I go out to buy groceries, and I come home with a whole lot of bags from my shopping spree, when I get home and I open up the refrigerator, sometimes there's not enough room for the new items because I got a whole lot of old and leftover items that are still sitting in the refrigerator. And the sad part is day after day, I keep opening up the door, and I keep seeing this old stuff that I know I'm never going to partake in again. [00:39:30]

But because I just don't want to clean out the refrigerator, I'll open up the refrigerator and look at some old stuff that is doing me no good. And what I realize is that when I clean out my refrigerator, there's some stuff that's been expired two years ago, just taking up space for no reason. And sometimes you got to get in there and clean out your refrigerator. [00:40:09]

What can I tell you in your life, there's some folk you need to forgive that's taking up some space. There's some old hurts and wounds that you need to get rid of that's just taking up some space. There's some old mess in your life that mean you're no good, but you got to clean it out, put it in the garbage and throw it away. Is there anybody in this house that's ready to get rid of your old and not walk out, you got to clear out some of the old stuff for the new work to be effective. [00:40:57]

So what did Nehemiah respond to what they were going through? What he did was to wisely and calmly trust God in the midst of the storm and to do concrete things that God would have for him to do to obtain the victory. Nehemiah told him, he said, everything is going to be all right. He said, the Lord has shown the enemy that their plan will not work in our life. He said, so let's get back to the work. [00:41:49]

He said, some of y'all get a spear in your hand. Some of y'all get a shovel in your hand. Some of y'all work while the other get ready to fight. Is there anybody in here that's ready to go to work for the Lord? You got a spear in one hand. You got a shovel in the next. And I don't know about you, but when God gives me comfort and let me know that everything will be all right, I don't mind working for the Lord. [00:42:31]

In the text, he said, do not be afraid. You got to remember that the Lord is great and he is awesome. When you get ready to walk out, is great He had a reason to give up and walk out. He hung his head. For me, he died. Well, the reason I don't walk out trust him on, that sent me while he's dead to many years from now till the Lord says it's over, your time is done. [00:43:04]

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