“Let us start rebuilding.”
Nehemiah 2:18 NIV
Nehemiah’s sadness was written all over his face. King Artaxerxes couldn’t help but notice. When he asked Nehemiah, his cupbearer, what was wrong, Nehemiah replied, “Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” (Nehemiah 2:3). The king trusted Nehemiah, so he allowed him to go to Jerusalem and inspect the ruins to see what was needed to rebuild the walls.
The state of a city says something about the state of its people. The Jews of this time were broken and scattered, much like the rubble of Jerusalem. But God had spoken hope and purpose into Nehemiah’s heart, so even when he saw the destruction with his own eyes, he didn’t become discouraged. And his confidence, founded in the strength of his God, passed through his words and into the hearts of the other Jews. “Let us start rebuilding,” they said. They were ready to begin.
When you feel God nudging you to do something, don’t ignore it. When you see a problem or hear of trouble and you don’t know how to fix it, ask God to help you find a way. He will lead you in the right direction and then give you the courage to take up the work. And as a result, that courage will lead others to join you.
God, I want to join You in Your work. Teach me to be a good servant for You. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2018 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Marian Leslie.