Rise above critics, do the work

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building, if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” Nehemiah 4:1-3. Here is this man, Sanballat, who heard about this band of Jews rebuilding the walls and he was angry. He ridiculed the Jews. He spoke to his associates and the army of Samaria, no doubt with a tone of ridicule and sarcasm: “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble...?” One of Sanballat’s associates was this Ammonite, Tobiah. And he agreed: “What they are building - if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones.” Let’s learn this: Visionaries, it should never surprise you when you do the work and some react with anger and ridicule. Whatever you do that you know will make an impact in the lives of others, expect criticism. There is always a Sanballat ready to express anger towards the good that you are doing. I’m reminded of a lot of young people at church that always open up to me about being called all sorts of names because they are serving in church. Sanballat is there to discourage you from working or building. Actually, he is there to try to convince you that it is not possible. He is a liar and his father, the devil, is the father of lies. Read John 8:44. And then Tobiah. He is that friend of Sanballat whose job is to emphasize on what he-Sanballat is saying. They are a team of naysayers that hate to see visions established. Positive leaders don’t lead because they want recognition or validation. They lead because there is something they must do, build, create, transform, and change. They lead because it’s who they are and what they are meant to do. However, with leadership comes scrutiny, praise, critics, and attacks. A leader could find a cure for cancer and would still have some people criticize them for it. There was even once a leader who transformed the world by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and loving the unlovable, and yet he was killed for it. If you are a leader, expect to be attacked. Positive leadership doesn’t mean you won’t be criticized. It means you have the grit and belief to overcome it. Positive leaders don’t lead in a tranquil sea of positivity, but through the storms of adversity and negativity. Leadership is knowing that the critics will criticize you while still saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done. History doesn’t remember the critics. It remembers the one who withstood criticism to accomplish something great. Facebook/Instagram: Yvonne Tshepang Mooka Twitter: @yvonnemooka Email: [email protected]