Strengthen My Hands: A Word for Anyone Building Something for God

"Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." - Nehemiah 6:9

"Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." - Nehemiah 6:9

This is one of the prayers in the Bible. Nehemiah does not use a lot of words. He just talks to God from his heart. He is a man who's under a lot of pressure. He is turning to God for help. In five words Nehemiah gives us a way to survive the toughest part of any work God gives us. This is the part right before we finish.

The Attack Comes Near the End, Not the Beginning

We meet Nehemiah in chapter 6. The wall around Jerusalem is almost finished. It is ninety percent done. This detail is important.

The enemy did not fight hard when the work started. The enemy fought hard when Nehemiah could see that he was almost done. Earlier in chapter 4 people were making fun of Nehemiah. They were threatening him. By chapter 6 things had changed. Now the enemy was using reports, manipulation and intimidation. The enemy wanted to make Nehemiah weak. The enemy wanted to stop the work.

The Real Target Is Your Strength

The enemy did not go after the wall. The enemy went after Nehemiah's hands. In the Bible hands mean the strength to do things. This is where many of us are weak. We do not give up on what God wants us to do because we stop believing in it. We give up because we are tired. We are discouraged. We are under a lot of pressure.

Think about what "hands" can mean. It can mean our strength. It can mean our stability. It can mean our focus. It can mean our ability to make decisions and finish what we start.

When Nehemiah prays he is not asking for a feeling. He is asking for the strength to keep doing the work.

Four Pressures Worth Naming

Nehemiah 6 is like a guide to the pressures we face when we work for God.

First there is distraction. The enemy says, "Let us meet together." It sounds like an idea.. It is a trap. Nehemiah says, "I am doing a work. I cannot come down." Not every good opportunity is from God.

Second there is accusation. People say that Nehemiah is rebelling. They say he is building a reputation for himself. Nehemiah does not get upset. He does not explain himself much. He goes to God in prayer.

Third there is manipulation. A called prophet tells Nehemiah to hide in the temple. It sounds like an idea.. It is a lie. The prophet wants Nehemiah to be afraid. Nehemiah needs to be careful. Not every voice that sounds spiritual is from God.

Fourth there is pressure from inside. Some of the leaders of Judah are against Nehemiah. When the pressure comes from people we trust it is very hard.

Why This Little Prayer Carries Much Weight

Nehemiah says, "Now therefore O God strengthen my hands." He is saying, "I am under a lot of pressure.. I am turning to you." He is not asking God to make things easy. He is asking God to make him strong.

Nehemiah does not pray, "Take away my enemies." He prays, "Help me to keep going." He does not ask God to make the work easier. He asks God to make him stronger. This is what mature people do. They care more about what God wants them to do than about how they feel.

A Few Truths to Carry With You

It is not the same to start something as it's to finish it. Starting something takes faith. Finishing something takes endurance. If you are tired you are not failing. You are just getting to the part.

You may not need things to be easier. You may need to be stronger. Many of us pray, "God make things easier." Nehemiah teaches us to pray, "God make me stronger."

We need to be careful about what we say yes to. Not every invitation is from God. Not every criticism deserves our attention. What we say no to is just as important, as what we say yes to.

When we depend on God in private we can do things in public. Nehemiah's prayer was not a one-time thing. It was part of his life. He always turned to God.

A Declaration to Pray Today

We will not give up when things get hard. We will not lose focus when things get distracting. We will not fail when things get tough. God will give us the strength to keep going.

Nehemiah did not pray for things to be easy. He prayed for strength. Maybe we should pray for strength too. Maybe we should say, "God help me to finish what I started."

May God give you the strength to finish what you are doing.