Verse from Nehemiah

““我们的神啊，求你垂听，我们被藐视，求你使他们的毁谤归到他们头上，使他们在被掳之地成为掠物。”

尼希米记 4:4 

“Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.”

Nehemiah 4:4 

Nehemiah had critics too as he led a team to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. They actually mocked Nehemiah and those working alongside him saying, “Even a fox climbing up on it would break down [your] wall of stones” (Nehemiah 4:3). 

His response to the critics: Instead of feeling dejected or trying to refute their comments, he turned to God for help. Instead of responding directly, he asked God to hear the way His people were being treated and to defend them (v. 4). After entrusting those concerns to God, he and his co-laborers continued to work steadily on the wall “with all their heart” (v. 6).

We can learn from Nehemiah not to be distracted by criticism of our work. When we’re criticized or mocked, instead of responding to our critics out of hurt or anger, we can prayerfully ask God to defend us from discouragement so we can continue with a whole heart.

Help me to evaluate the good and bad in the criticism, 

to trust You, 

and to continue in my work wholeheartedly.