Building Without Responding to the Mockery

“So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” - Nehemiah 4:6
 
If you aren’t careful, mockery has a way of pulling you off task. It questions motives. It exaggerates flaws. It tries to bait you into explaining yourself. When you’re rebuilding something meaningful, criticism often comes wrapped in sarcasm instead of substance. The temptation is to stop what you’re doing and prove the critics wrong, even if that means abandoning the work for a while.
 
Nehemiah faced that exact pressure. As soon as rebuilding became visible, voices rose up to belittle the effort. The wall wasn’t strong enough. The people weren’t capable enough. The work wasn’t worth doing. Nehemiah didn’t hold a meeting to argue his case. He didn’t fire back with clever responses. He stayed focused on the task in front of him. Progress mattered more than public opinion.
 
There’s maturity in knowing what deserves your energy. Responding to mockery feels productive, but it usually isn’t. It drains attention and slows momentum. Every minute spent debating is a minute not spent building. Nehemiah understood that distraction is often more dangerous than opposition. Mockery only works if it succeeds in pulling you away from what God called you to do.
 
Silence doesn’t mean weakness. It means clarity. Choosing not to respond is often a sign that you know where your validation comes from. Confidence grows when your identity isn’t tied to the approval of onlookers. God doesn’t require you to defend your obedience. He asks you to stay faithful to the work He placed in your hands.
 
If you’re rebuilding something right now and criticism is loud, pause before engaging. Ask whether the comment deserves a response or if you should simply shift your focus elsewhere. Notice how quickly mockery tries to redirect your attention. Staying on task is sometimes the most powerful reply.
 
Keep building. Let progress speak louder than words. God honors steady faithfulness more than sharp comebacks. When you refuse to be distracted, the work continues, the wall rises, and the noise eventually fades into the background.