Nehemiah was minding his own business as the cupbearer to the king when he received word of how terribly things were going in his homeland, Jerusalem. The people were in great trouble and shame. The walls had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire. Things were literally falling apart.
But first, pray!
When Nehemiah heard this, he was crushed. His first response was to pray and fast. (Nehemiah 1:4-10) He knew something needed to be done, but he did not intend on rushing ahead without seeking God first.
As Nehemiah prayed, he acknowledged that God was great, gracious, and faithful. He acknowledged they had sinned against Him by setting aside His commands, decrees, and regulations. He remembered God’s promise to scatter them if they were unfaithful, and that’s exactly where they found themselves. But he also remembered what God had promised to do if they got their act together.
By the time he finished praying, Nehemiah knew there was a job to do and that he was the one to get it started. He humbly asked God to grant him success so he could move forward with the task at hand.
Torn down and destroyed.
As I read this, I immediately thought of the things around us today that are being torn down and destroyed.
Our country.
Our families.
Our faith.
Our freedoms.
Nehemiah was crushed and he wept over the destruction. But he didn’t stop there. He got down on his knees before the only One who could fix the problem. He asked God to hear him and to be with him so he could get out there and mobilize.
Mobilize!
Look around you. Where do you see broken walls and burned-down gates? Ask God to reveal to you how you can help. He will give you the desire, the opportunities, and the abilities to make an impact exactly where He wants you to.
People need Jesus, and we all have a job to do. As Christ-followers, we should be heartbroken about the destruction we see around us. But our sadness needs to mobilize us, not paralyze us.
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. – 1 Peter 1:13 NLT
