Every good adventure movie features a powerful villain about to vanquish the hero until the very end when fortunes reverse. Good triumphs over evil, the villain sulks away and everyone lives happily ever after.

Nehemiah faced a convoy of villains as he led the citizens of Jerusalem in rebuilding the city walls. They faced such credible threats that each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.

Along with violence, Nehemiah’s opponents spread rumors of his desire to finish the walls and declare himself king, which meant swift reprisals from the leaders of the empire. A full-one smear campaign at work.

But Nehemiah persisted, working the curses of his enemies into his prayers. He wrote of the experience: They were all trying to frighten me, thinking “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

His enemies hoped to discourage Nehemiah into dropping his trowel. Instead, Nehemiah prayed the opposite and the Lord responded.

In 52 days the wall stood complete, an amazing accomplishment. The nations who opposed the work were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

The Lord reversed the curse. Which is one reason to pray today. On my own I cannot fix all the problems around me, or heal the wounds of this world, or make wise the foolish.

But I can ask the Lord—the one who answered the prayers of Nehemiah—to work in reverse. Then who knows what amazing results I might see?

Nehemiah 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20