Devotionals by Pastor Rick Warren

Opposition Prepares You for Opportunity
By Rick Warren

“There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents.” 1 Corinthians 16:9 (GNT)

One of the greatest tests of character in life is how you handle opposition. In fact, opposition is part of God's will for you; it prepares you for the opportunities ahead.

The Bible says, “There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents” (1 Corinthians 16:9 GNT).

If you're going to make something of your life, not everyone is going to like it. You’re always going to find people who feel it’s their job to criticize every dream or project God puts on your heart. Their favorite word is “no,” and their favorite phrase is “You can't do that.” 

One tactic people use to stop you from doing God’s will is ridicule. Nehemiah 4 shows three ways people might use ridicule to oppose you.

People will attack your character and identity. In Nehemiah 4:1-2, one of Nehemiah’s critics, Sanballat, heard the wall was being rebuilt. He “flew into a rage, became indignant, and mocked the Jews . . . saying, ‘What are these pathetic Jews doing?’” (Nehemiah 4:1-2 ISV).

When someone attacks you, they’re typically reacting emotionally, not logically. In fact, by the time they’re attacking you, they’ve stopped thinking clearly. When people are angry or afraid, they resort to name-calling and even lies. Their words can hurt, but those words do not change your identity or purpose.

People will accuse you of having wrong motives. Nehemiah’s critics questioned his motives. Sanballat said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves?” (Nehemiah 4:2 ESV). Sanballat suggested that they were rebuilding the wall for their own glory and selfish purposes.

The truth is, you can never fully know another person’s motives. We all have mixed motivations. We often can’t even figure out our own motivations for doing something! Only God knows “the hearts of all mankind” (1 Kings 8:39 NASB).

People will predict your failure. Many people predicted that Nehemiah would fail. As he was rebuilding the wall, one person said, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:3 NLT). 

If you set a goal, announce a vision, or begin a business, many will be quick to forecast your failure. But you always have the choice to give a godly response. In the next couple of days, we’ll look at some ways you can do that.

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Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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