Chuck Swindoll Devotional — 1 October 2026: Even as the Enemy Blasts, God Builds

# Overview

# What the passage shows Sanballat's tactic was rumor. Two features are highlighted: the origin is left vague, and the story often exaggerates a kernel of truth until it becomes a persuasive lie. That combination makes false accounts feel credible and encourages people to pass them on.

Nehemiah faced a dilemma. If he refused to go when summoned, he might appear afraid to reveal the truth. If he left the wall, he would hand the enemy exactly what they wanted. Instead of reacting emotionally, he applied discernment.

# Nehemiah's practical response Swindoll outlines three clear steps Nehemiah took:

• He calmly denied the false charge: he stated that the things alleged were not true.
• He confronted the source of the rumor by pointing out that the accusations were invented.
• He took the situation before God and asked for strength: "But now, O God, strengthen my hands." The work continued and the wall was finished.

The result was tangible: completion of the wall and a loss of confidence among the opposing nations.

# Practical takeaways for readers

• Treat rumors skeptically. Ask concrete questions before passing anything on: Is it necessary to say this? Is it true? Do I have the right to repeat it?
• Respond with facts and restraint. A calm, factual denial and a clear statement that an accusation is invented undercut the rumor's spread.
• Use prayer as an active response. Taking the matter to God and asking for strength kept Nehemiah focused and steady.

# Why this matters now The pattern shown in Nehemiah applies to many modern situations where projects, ministries, or teams face smear campaigns or gossip. The devotional frames discernment and steady focus as strategic tools that produce a concrete outcome: the completion of the work and the erosion of opponents' confidence.

# Short takeaway When people use rumor to intimidate, a combination of sober evaluation, calm correction, and prayerful persistence keeps work on course and often leads to resolution and success.