Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing,
and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.”
Nehemiah 4:10 (NKJV)
Every day, I coach women who are chasing a God-given dream. And earlier this year, I noticed something happening in their hearts that broke my heart a little.
Some of the excitement they had when they first started … had faded. Life crowded in. For some, progress felt painfully slow. I could see the discouragement creeping into their hearts one by one, that quiet voice whispering, Maybe this wasn't really my calling after all. Maybe I can’t do this.
Perhaps you know that voice. Maybe it whispers about a ministry you’re building, a relationship you’re fighting for, a career change you’re stepping toward, or a health journey you’re persevering in. Maybe there’s a dream God placed in your heart that now feels more like a burden than a blessing.
Can I tell you what I’m learning? This is exactly where breakthroughs happen. Not at the exciting beginning. Not when the passion is fresh and the possibilities feel endless. In the messy, unglamorous middle, where the rubble is piled up and progress is hard to see.
It's like in Nehemiah 4 when God’s people were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. It was a God-ordained mission, and they started strong. They were thrilled to be a part of this important purpose. But partway through, something shifted.
Nehemiah 4:10 says, “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.’”
Not just the enemies outside the wall but the rubble within discouraged them. The accumulation of hard days, slow progress, and exhaustion made them question everything.
But Nehemiah reminded them of the vision. He repositioned them and told them to keep building. One stone at a time. Until 52 days later, the wall was finished (Nehemiah 6:15).
Whatever God has called you to, He hasn’t changed His mind because it got hard. He will bring it all to fruition in His timing. It may not feel easy, exciting, or certain, but when you choose faithfulness over feelings and keep showing up anyway, God doesn’t waste your obedience.
Every hard step, every act of courage when you want to quit, every prayer whispered through exhaustion … He’s using all of it. He's building something in you that’s bigger than you can see. He’s preparing you for something you can’t even imagine right now.
Momentum isn’t built on giant leaps. It's built on faithful steps taken one at a time.
You’re closer than you think. And whatever wall you’re building is worth finishing.
Lord, remind me today that You haven’t changed Your mind about what You’ve called me to. Give me courage to keep building - not because I feel ready or equipped but because I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Tracie Miles
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"
