What to do when things look bad or even impossible

"Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!’" (Neh. 4:14 NLT).

Surrounded and greatly discouraged

In the above passage the Jews were trying to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and were surrounded on every side by enemies dead set on seeing them give up, fail, or worse. As a result, they were drowning in discouragement—stuck staring at everything going wrong around them. So Nehemiah told them not be afraid, to refocus their minds on God who is great and glorious and on their important purpose. 

This is great advice, even today, no matter what happens!

When things look bad, or even impossible, do what Nehemiah said to do...

First, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim. 1:7 ESV); “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

Second. “Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious,” –  “And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:19-21 ESV)

Third, “fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Eph. 3:20 ESV)