Standing Strong in the Face of Mockery

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’” – Nehemiah 2:19

Mockery can be one of the most painful forms of opposition. It’s not just about someone disagreeing with what you’re doing—it’s about making you feel small, foolish, and even ridiculous for trying. Nehemiah faced this firsthand when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem mocked and ridiculed his efforts to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Their goal wasn’t only to halt the work; they wanted Nehemiah to feel humiliated, doubting his own sanity. Scorn is a powerful tool of the enemy, often aimed at our insecurities to make us question whether we’ve truly heard from God or are just setting ourselves up for failure.

Many of us have felt the sting of mockery, whether through others’ comments or the internal voices that amplify our feelings of inadequacy. Sometimes, the fear of being laughed at is enough to stop us from stepping out in faith. Even the bravest among us, unafraid of real danger, have been silenced by the prospect of ridicule. The enemy knows this and uses scorn to discourage us from obeying God’s will. Every follower of Christ will eventually face this test: Will we care more about others’ opinions, or will we focus on what God requires of us?

When Nehemiah was mocked, he didn’t give in to shame or let their words derail him. He knew that the ridicule of people paled in comparison to the approval of God. He had been called to rebuild the walls, and no amount of laughing or mocking would deter him. Like Nehemiah, we must keep our eyes on the work God has called us to, trusting that His approval matters far more than others’ opinions. We must be willing to face mockery, scorn, and ridicule to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

In our faith journey, the pressure to conform to the opinions of those around us is real. But if we live for the applause of people, we’ll be swayed by their criticism. God’s call is higher, often coming with opposition from those who don’t understand or agree. Yet, as long as we’re following Him, we can rest assured that His opinion is the only one that truly counts. When faced with mockery, let’s remind ourselves that the world mocked Jesus, too—and still, He pressed on to complete His mission.

PRAYER