Ignore the Distractions: A Christian Leadership Lesson on Mental Toughness

Jen Crouse
5 days ago
2 min read

As leaders, we face countless decisions every day.

Along with those decisions come distractions that compete for our attention and often pull us away from what truly matters.

For Christian leaders, the challenge goes even deeper. How do we silence the noise, stay focused, and make the right decisions in the moment while remaining faithful to God’s calling?

For me, clarity has always come from Nehemiah 6:3, where Nehemiah declares, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” These words, and the story behind them, have continually filled me with confidence and resolve.

Nehemiah was a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king who became deeply burdened when he learned that Jerusalem’s walls were in ruins. Through prayer, courage, and God’s favor, he was granted permission to return home and lead the rebuilding of the city’s defenses. What followed was no easy task. Nehemiah faced constant opposition, internal challenges, and relentless attempts to discourage him. Yet through faithful dependence on God and strong leadership, the walls were completed in just 52 days.

This accomplishment was not only physical but spiritual. Nehemiah helped restore the moral and spiritual life of the people, reminding them of their identity and their covenant with God.

During those 52 days of rebuilding, distractions were everywhere.

At one point, members of the opposition asked Nehemiah to come down from the wall to meet with them. Their request appeared reasonable on the surface, but Nehemiah recognized it for what it was……A distraction designed to pull him away from the work God had entrusted to him.

His response was simple and powerful. “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.”

When distractions come from every direction, I often place myself in Nehemiah’s position. I remind myself that if I am doing good work, work aligned with God’s purpose, and I do not need to entertain every interruption.

My confidence has come from knowing the work is worth protecting.

Nehemiah’s story highlights the following timeless leadership principles:

Focus matters.

Perseverance matters.

Prayer matters.

Faithful obedience matters.

As Christian leaders, we are called to recognize when distractions threaten to derail us, we need to remain steadfast in the work God has placed before us.