So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:20
Stand your ground. Confrontation makes people uncomfortable. Successful leaders know how to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. That is what separates them from the pack. Knowing how to navigate conflict, attacks, and serious threats to your leadership is critical if you are to succeed. Every worthwhile vision will attract enemies. Enemies are the people and forces, both visible and invisible, that will stand against you as you build your dream. Leaders must anticipate conflict, then be willing to contend with resistance. Here are a few strategies to neutralize an enemy or tactic being used against you:
- Call it out.
- Face it and fight it.
- Accept it and work through it.
- Make peace by negotiating with it.
- Marshal your resources against it and overwhelm it.
Nehemiah, going into his building project, was full of prayer, purpose, and plans. He anticipated resistance and equipped his people to work on the wall while being “enemy conscious.” Nehemiah didn’t soft-shoe his enemies, placate them, or negotiate with them. Nehemiah said “no” to them and stood his ground, and then his team followed his lead. It wasn’t easy, but courageous leadership never is.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- What stands have you made that required you to fight through enemy attacks?
- What enemies are you facing as you contend for the ground God wants you to take?
- Are there people God wants you to defend that are within your circle of responsibility?
Enemies to the purposes of God won’t stand down until you stand up to them.
