In the past few years, the local government has been installing round-a-bouts in our community. People hate them. Yes, they are more efficient, but people hate them. Why? Because of a place named Confusion Corner. It's one of the worst round-a-bouts ever.
Engineers and government don't understand that they have no credibility when it comes to round-a-bouts. After driving through Confusion Corner, you don't want to drive through a round-a-bout ever again. People don't like them because on more than one occasion someone has tried to drive into them. Round-a-bouts are stress making intersections. People don't want stress. People don't like round-a-bouts. So do you create stress or not?
Nehemiah faced the fact that some of the locals were going to resist his efforts to rebuild the wall. There was no credibility with Sanballat and Tobiah. (Nehemiah 4: 1 - 3)
Nehemiah faces the fact that some of his own people were not going to support his efforts. Some encouraged their friends to quit and go. (Nehemiah 4: 10 - 12)
Nehemiah 4:14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
So, how do you choose?
Choose according to values. Nehemiah was improving the lives of all Jews by strengthening the city. He was stopping the racism and hatred that they were currently enduring. He was giving them a safe place to live.
Choose according to God's will. God wanted the walls rebuilt. Out of everything that God could have chosen to do, this was His will.
How do you justify making someone's life a little more stressful?
Remind them of the vision. For the people in Jerusalem, they understood Nehemiah when he said, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Refresh your vision and choose your battles wisely. If lives are going to be changed by the vision God has given you, then allow His wisdom to be your guide. Don't be afraid to cause hell some stress. Don't be scared to stress to cause the faithless some stress.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, help me to do the right thing at the right time for You. AMEN
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