Embrace the Race: Persevering Through Challenging TimesSample

Shake Off Negativity

When feeling frustrated with a situation, a pastor once told me to "let it roll off my back just like water on a duck." I had never heard this phrase before, but the context behind it is that a duck is not fearful of getting wet. His feathers are coated with oil on the outer layer so water droplets form, but these droplets do not permeate the feathers. The oil on their feathers causes these droplets of water to roll right off. 

This pastor was trying to help me toughen up and learn to overcome the negative words I had heard spoken against me. The truth is it's often challenging to let the words of others roll off from us. They usually stick to us, causing us to question ourselves and absorb these words internally. In our reading today, we will read about the opposition Nehemiah had to overcome.

Nehemiah's enemy tried to discourage the construction work on the walls through criticism and intimidation. The enemy will often try to prevent us from accomplishing what God has called us to do. We learn from Nehemiah's response not to give in to the opposition that tries to belittle and intimidate us. Nehemiah was able to push aside the negative words of those opposing God's work and press forward in what God had called him to do.

Daily Challenge

Often the enemy will use discouraging thoughts to try to get us to give up. Confess any negative thoughts you are facing and ask God to fill your heart with His words of encouragement.