When Opposition Shows Up Mid-Progress

“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed.” - Nehemiah 4:1
 
Opposition has a way of showing up at the worst possible time. Not when you were broken. Not when everything was quiet. It comes once you finally start rebuilding. You take a step forward, momentum begins to form, and suddenly, criticism gets louder. Questions turn sharp. Motives get questioned. What felt hopeful a moment ago now feels heavy again.
 
That pattern isn’t new. In Nehemiah’s story, the resistance didn’t come when the walls were rubble. No one cared then. The anger showed up when the work started. Progress triggered attention. Restoration exposed insecurity in others. As soon as rebuilding became visible, opposition followed. That detail matters because it reframes how resistance should be interpreted.
 
Criticism often feels like a sign you’re doing something wrong. It can shake confidence quickly. Doubt creeps in. You start replaying decisions and wondering if you moved too fast or misunderstood God. Scripture suggests another possibility. Resistance doesn’t always mean you missed it. Sometimes it means you’re finally moving in the right direction.
 
When progress begins, discomfort rises. Opposition grows louder because restoration disrupts the status quo. That doesn’t make the resistance pleasant, but it does make it less surprising. God rarely restores anything without tension showing up alongside it.
 
If opposition has surfaced since you started rebuilding something in your life, pause before assuming it’s a setback. Ask what might be changing that makes others uncomfortable. Notice whether the resistance appeared after progress began. Restoration often stirs reaction before it produces results.
 
Keep building. Stay grounded. Let God handle what rises against you. Opposition doesn’t cancel the work. Sometimes it confirms that healing, growth, and renewal are already underway.