Hostile plots were made against Nehemiah and his people while they were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, but repeatedly their first answer was pray. Obviously, they established strategies to protect themselves, however it seems that every strategy was successful because they understood that God was who protected and helped them.
Nehemiah said to them, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your kin” (4:14) but also he said, “Our God will fight for us” (4: 20) the result was that their enemies were not able to defeat them.
Nehemiah had some inside the wall troubles too. His own people were abusing and oppressing the more vulnerable of Jerusalem and he also was very determined to change that reality, with God’s help he led them to see that the only way to stand together was by helping and cooperating one to another. Nehemiah himself was doing what he was asking to do, he was leading by the example (5: 14-19)
Chapter 6 shows more opposition, but this time was exclusively against Nehemiah, again Nehemiah was relying in God, he prayed “But now, O God strengthen my hands” (6: 9) and by the grace of God he and his people finished the entire wall even though the powerful opposition from their enemies.
I think that verse 6: 16 express clearly what was happening in Jerusalem “ And When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of God”
Do not be afraid; take courage because the Lord is with us in everything that we are doing for him.