Student Leadership 101: Vision Sample

Protecting Your Vision

Part of the reason it’s so important to share your vision at the right time with the right people is because not everyone will support your vision. 

As soon as the work began, Nehemiah was mocked and ridiculed by three men: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem not only bullied Nehemiah and the Israelites, but they also accused Nehemiah of rebelling against King Artaxerxes. When they couldn’t destroy the project, they attempted to destroy Nehemiah’s personal character. 

Throughout the building process, these men continued to insult Nehemiah and his team and eventually resorted to scare tactics to stop the restoration of the walls.  Nehemiah wouldn’t let outside voices derail his vision from God though. As a leader, he encouraged the Israelites and reminded them why rebuilding the wall was important.

As Nehemiah continued to make progress in spite of opposition, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem tried to trick him into meeting with them so they could attack him.  

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

Nehemiah understood the importance of what God had called him to do — and because Nehemiah saw his calling as important, he refused to quit when it got intense. As the verse says, he refused to come down to their level. He brought what was happening before God and put a physical plan in place to deal with his enemies. 

Chances are you will face opposition as you carry out the vision God gives you — and when voices threaten to discourage or derail you (and those could be outside voices or voices in your own head), you need to be prepared. Nehemiah had his workers keep their weapons close by so they were always prepared for an attack. In the same way, we must have God’s Word close to our heart and mind so we can withstand adversity. How can you plan to persevere when others threaten to pull you down? Just as Nehemiah set up people to be on guard, who can you rely on to have your back?