Silencing the Greatest Naysayer - Ourselves
Have you ever had a great idea or vision? It could be as seemingly simplistic as sending a card of encouragement to someone in your thoughts, to something you perceive is as insurmountable as obtaining a degree, writing a book, or undertaking a new business venture. Despite the size of the potential endeavor, did you encounter a "Naysayer"?
We've all encountered such an individual – raining on your parade by "lovingly" advising you how your new adventure will either come to ruin or possibly not even work at all. They can be convinced that they are actually doing you a service by sparing you time and energy, communicating an entire litany of reasons why your dream of grand possibility is actually an impossibility. They can even encourage you to save yourself time and aggravation by just going ahead, admitting defeat, and going back to your destiny of the mundane. It's downright depressing. These “loving realists” can be family members, co-workers, friends, pastors, bosses, or even strangers.
However, all too often, the greatest "naysayer" isn’t someone from without, but rather someone from within – ourselves. We can be our own worst enemy, self-sabotaging any "God-ideas" that appear in our hearts and/or heads by disqualifying ourselves before we've even allowed God Himself to qualify us. This scenario has played itself out in my life way too often. I cannot even tell you how many times I've been guilty - disqualifying myself, or the dream I've been given, within mere minutes of receiving such a vision. I don’t even allow the dream to take flight before I’ve grounded it to utter failure.
As I think of such scenarios, I am reminded of an account in the book of Nehemiah, which, by the way, is an outstanding leadership guide on how to envision, act, lead, empower, and flat-out get the job done. Nehemiah was amazing – a leader among leaders. He may not have been a man of position, but he was a man of great faith and determination, which opened the doors of God-possibilities wide in his life. His vision and follow-thru literally affected a nation.
As the account goes, approximately 400 years prior to the birth of Christ, Nehemiah, who served as a cupbearer to the King of Susa, heard that his beloved homeland, Jerusalem, was in ruins, as its walls were broken and its gates had been burned with fire, leaving it completely vulnerable to its enemies. He was heartbroken, but allowed this heartbreak to birth a vision of grand proportions, propelling him to ask the king he served permission to return to his homeland in order to rebuild Jerusalem. He cried out to God for favor. Permission was granted, and he went in his way.
But, as when vision is birthed in ourselves, it didn’t take long for the villains of the story - the Naysayers - to come along - Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. These Naysayers constantly discouraged, mocked, intimidated, and ridiculed Nehemiah, with the sole purpose of causing him to abandon his God-vision. Nehemiah's first initial response to these naysayers? "The God of heaven will give us success.”
Nehemiah knew...it wasn't about his abilities, talent, or strength...but rather, it was about God’s. He declared (6:9) "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed,' But I prayed, 'Now strengthen my hands.'" He stood confident in the Source of his help, strength, and courage. He knew that no weapon formed against him could prosper – no matter how intimidating or frightening. He didn't give control over to the negative influences, whether they were from within or without. He only gave control to the One in control – God.
It strikes me that Nehemiah also refused to be intimidated about what others potentially thought about him, as he was confident in who he was and what God had called him to do. It didn’t matter to him what others may or may not say. This reminds me of a time when I was in my early 20’s. One of my mentors, Barbara, called me out, saying, "Cammie, you're so concerned and intimidated about what others think about you, when the truth is, they're probably not even thinking about you!" I didn't know whether I should be relieved or insulted! I laugh now, as I realize how self-absorbed I must have been, thinking that people were thinking about me all the time. It was then that I decided to quit giving control over to something or someone who may not even exist.
But in that Nehemiah was human, I have to ask…did he have his moments of doubt? I'm sure he did. Was he ever scared? Possibly so. Were there times when he felt completely overwhelmed and alone? Chances are, yes. But once again, he met any doubt, discouragement or intimidation that came his way with the only thing that could qualify, empower, enable and equip him – God.
Corrie Ten Boom once said, “It’s not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” Wise words from a wise woman, who saved hundreds of Jewish lives during the Holocaust. I’m sure, given the magnitude of her God-vision, bravely hiding Jews, then transporting them to freedom, she had moments of battling Naysayers, even if the Naysayer was herself. But like Nehemiah, she knew it wasn’t about her ability, as it was about God’s.
So your dream or vision? Don’t discount or put it on the back burner, but bravely keep putting it out there to God, asking Him for courage, strength, direction, wisdom, discernment and ability. Give control to the One who is in control, taking control away from the Naysayers, refusing to listen to the them - even if it's just yourself. In doing so, those pesky Naysayers will be silenced. Guaranteed.
Much love,
Cammie
