Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot 
rebuild the wall.” – Neh 4:10
DISCOURAGEMENT. The opposition tried ridicule, then they tried physical threats. But it was discouragement that nearly brought everything to a halt.
“We are not able!” It almost sounds like, “There are giants in the land!” Where is their faith? Are they afraid of hard work?
Kelly Minter writes, “Rubble threatened to stop the laborers in Jerusalem dead in their tracks. Forget Sanballat’s nasty threats, forget the Ammonites who were planning to fight against them. It was that exhausting rubble that just about took them down.
The problem with rubble is that it hangs around well after the initial destruction. Though the attack on Jerusalem’s walls had long since passed, the rubble was still present.
What rubble in your life is presently the most discouraging and exhausting? (For example, finances, additions, or relationships?)
It’s important for us to deal with our personal rubble or we may find ourselves still climbing over it 30 years from now. How can we rebuild properly if we never address our rubble?
Getting rid of rubble requires we do something.
What specific actions can you take to deal with your rubble? It might include seeking counsel, asking for help, or requesting accountability.”
Do not allow rubble to discourage you. Follow the example of the Jews in Nehemiah – bond together with a small group (in their case it was family) and work at removing the rubble. Until the rubble is gone, it will be difficult to build new, strong, beautiful defenses in its place.
– Nehemiah, a Bible study by Kelly Minter.
* Photo of collapsed section of Hadrian’s Wall near Cawfields, England by R. Witcher
Mindy Clemons 
love this. totally goes along with the study i am doing at ibc, power of the praying wife. you have to get yourself right with God before you can even get to the place of God hearing your prayers for your husband. the image of rubble is perfect here! some of us have big piles of rubble and others small but it can be deblitating to your personal walk if you don’t sort it out!! thanks for this post and may we all have the courage to face our rubble piles!!!
Yes! Once piece at a time, removing the rubble from my life… ’cause I am tired of tripping over it!
This was a timely message for me. I think in pictures anyway and it was definitely a good picture. I agree with tired of tripping over it! Funny, I’m in Jenifer’s class too.