Rise and Build Through Opposition

Standing Strong When Opposition Comes: The Reality of Doing God's Work

The Christian life is often portrayed as a journey of peace and blessing, and while those elements are certainly present, there's another reality that doesn't always get discussed: opposition. When we set out to follow God's calling, whether it's a general command to all believers or a specific mission placed on our hearts, we can expect resistance. The question isn't whether opposition will come, but how we'll respond when it does.

Three Types of Work in the Kingdom

Before we can understand opposition, we need to understand the work God calls us to. There are essentially three categories of work in the Christian life:

General Revelation encompasses what all believers are called to do. Love your neighbor. Care for widows and orphans. Walk in obedience to God's word. These commands are clear, written in black and white throughout Scripture, with no room for debate or interpretation. Every follower of Christ is called to these foundational acts of faith.

Specific Calling or Gifting is the unique role each person plays in the body of Christ. Whether it's hospitality, administration, teaching, prayer, or countless other gifts, God equips each believer with specific abilities to build up His church. When we discover and operate in our gifting, the body functions as it should. When we don't, we experience spiritual disease, parts of the body failing to do what they were designed to do.

The Work of Belief is perhaps the most fundamental. Jesus himself defined this when people asked him what they should do to work the works of God. His answer was simple yet profound: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29). Trusting Jesus, following Him, and allowing God to work in our lives, this is the foundation upon which all other work is built.

When the Walls Go Up, So Does the Resistance

The book of Nehemiah provides a powerful illustration of opposition in action. When Nehemiah and the Israelites set out to rebuild Jerusalem's wall, a critical defensive structure for their survival, they immediately faced mockery and threats. Sanballat and Tobiah ridiculed their efforts, suggesting the wall would be so weak that even a fox could knock it down.

But the opposition didn't stop at words. As the work progressed and the wall reached halfway up, enemies conspired to attack Jerusalem and sow confusion. The threats became so serious that the builders had to work with one hand while holding a sword in the other. Imagine the difficulty of laying stones or mixing mortar while constantly prepared for battle. Yet they persisted, working from daybreak until the stars appeared, never letting their guard down.

This historical account mirrors a spiritual reality: when we begin doing kingdom work, opposition emerges from unexpected places.

Opposition Comes in Layers

External Opposition often comes first. Friends who once supported you may turn critical when your life begins to change. "What, do you think you're better than us?" they might ask when you no longer participate in activities that conflict with your new values. Co-workers might mock your faith. Even strangers can react with surprising hostility to simple expressions of Christianity, like turning off Christian music because they "can't take it anymore."

This external resistance can be bewildering. We naively assume that doing good will be universally celebrated, but spiritual warfare doesn't work that way. Forces opposed to God's kingdom will use people, circumstances, and cultural pressure to discourage those advancing His purposes.

Internal Opposition cuts even deeper. Nehemiah faced this when fellow Israelites were exploiting their own people during a famine, taking advantage of those with less means. Sometimes the people closest to us, family members, fellow believers, even church leaders, become sources of discouragement rather than support.

Consider the spouse who becomes resentful when their partner's spiritual growth accelerates. Or the parent who questions why their child would "throw their life away" pursuing ministry. These internal conflicts are particularly painful because they come from those we expect to be our greatest cheerleaders.

Deceptive Opposition represents the most insidious form. In Nehemiah 6, a man pretending to have a prophetic word tried to manipulate Nehemiah into hiding in the temple out of fear, an action that would have been sinful and damaged his reputation. Nehemiah recognized this wasn't from God but was actually a hired scheme by his enemies.

This still happens today. People claiming to speak for God may try to lead you into sin or away from your calling. The motivation might be insecurity, jealousy, or spiritual darkness, but the result is the same: an attempt to derail what God is doing in your life.

The Call to Persevere

So how do we respond when opposition comes from all sides? The answer is found in Galatians 6:9: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Don't give up.

There will be seasons when you press forward through tears because everything seems to be falling apart. Your calling may cost you friendships, family relationships, or opportunities. The path may take years, even decades, longer than you expected. But perseverance matters.

What if God is using those 40 or 50 years of difficulty to prepare you for something significant in His kingdom? What if the pain, rejection, and struggle are shaping you into the person capable of fulfilling your divine purpose? Would it be worth it?

The answer is yes. It is always worth it to faithfully serve the King.

What Will You Do With What You've Been Given?

Jesus told a parable about a master who entrusted his servants with different amounts of money according to their abilities. When he returned, he asked for an accounting. Two servants had invested and doubled what they received, earning the master's commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

But one servant, paralyzed by fear, had buried his portion in the ground. The master's response was harsh: "You wicked and lazy servant."

One day, every believer will stand before God, and the question won't primarily be about our failures; Jesus has covered those. The question will be: What did you do with what I gave you? Your time, talents, resources, relationships, abilities, what did you do with them?

Will you hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?

Be Ready, Stand Firm

Like the builders in Nehemiah's day who worked with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other, we must always be prepared. First Peter 3:15 instructs us to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you."

When people ask why you're different, why you've changed, why you're pursuing this particular path, be ready with an answer rooted in humility and truth.

The opposition is real. The spiritual battle is genuine. But so is the promise: in due season, we will reap if we don't lose heart.

Don't grow weary. Keep building. Keep serving. Keep believing.

The harvest is coming.

Devotional

A 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the message Rise and Build Through Opposition.