Day 20 — A Great Work

“So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?’”

— Nehemiah 6:3 (BSB)

The walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins. Many years earlier, enemies had broken them down and burned the gates. Without walls, the city was unprotected. God’s people were weak and ashamed.

A man named Nehemiah heard about it and was heartbroken. He prayed, and God gave him a big job: go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls.

Nehemiah gathered the people, and they got to work. Families built sections of the wall next to their houses. Everyone pitched in.

But not everyone was happy about it. Some powerful enemies, men named Sanballat and Geshem, didn’t want the walls rebuilt. First they made fun of the builders. Then they threatened to attack. And when that didn’t work, they tried something sneaky. They sent a message inviting Nehemiah to come down and meet with them in one of the villages. Nehemiah knew it was a trap to get him away from the work, and maybe to hurt him.

So Nehemiah sent back today’s verse: “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.”

They asked him four times! And four times, Nehemiah gave the same answer. He stayed focused.

And guess what? The whole wall was finished in just fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15). Even their enemies realized that the work had been done with the help of God.

God has “great work” for you to do too. Maybe it’s doing well in school, learning a skill, helping your family, growing in your faith or serving at church. And just like Nehemiah, you’ll face distractions that try to pull you away.

Some distractions are obvious: screens, games, friends who want you to goof off. Others are sneakier: discouragement (“This is too hard”), mocking (“That’s so lame”), or even good things that crowd out the most important things.

When distractions come, remember Nehemiah’s answer: “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.” Stay focused on what God has called you to do.

Think about it: What “great work” do you think God wants you to focus on right now? What distractions try to pull you away from it?

Try this: The next time you’re distracted from something important, say Nehemiah’s words to yourself: “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.” Then get back to it!

Dear God, thank You for giving me important work to do for You. Help me stay focused like Nehemiah, and not be pulled away by distractions. Give me strength to keep going until the work is done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.