When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4
Nehemiah was part of an elite group of exiles who rose to the highest level of the Babylonian socio-political hierarchy. Like Daniel, Nehemiah had unfettered access to the king of Babylon. As the cupbearer to the king, he was a trusted confidant and advisor to the monarch. It is fair to say that Nehemiah lived an affluent life.
Nevertheless, Nehemiah had a consuming passion for his Israelite brothers and sisters. He mourned for the devastation of Jerusalem. When he heard about the condition of the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and the city of Jerusalem, he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for four months. Then he made the selfless decision to jeopardize his life by going before the king to ask to be sent to Jerusalem with enough resources to rebuild the broken wall of the city.
Despite the sins of the Israelites, God placed Nehemiah in the King’s court so he could go back to rebuild the wall of the city. Going back to Jerusalem meant giving up the comfort and luxury of living in the palace. It also meant risking his life, as he had to contend with the enemies of the Jews who did not want the wall to be rebuild.
We were all created for a greater purpose than we can imagine. Unfortunately, many people get too comfortable in the midst of their affluence and choose not to think about fulfilling their God-giving purpose. Some people are so enamored by their affluence or influence in their career, or in their church, or in their social circle, they do not want to think about the broken walls God is calling them to help rebuild.
Whether you know it or not, there is a broken wall somewhere that God is calling you to rebuild. That broken wall can be your city of birth, or the community you live in, or a third world country, or a dilapidated neighborhood in Newark, NJ, or Elizabeth, NJ, or Baltimore, MA, Chicago, Illinois, or Detroit, MI.
Find the Nehemiah in you so you can help rebuild the broken wall the Almighty has purposed for you to rebuild. During this season of social and political unrest, we can see many broken walls to rebuild. Nehemiah could have enjoyed his luxurious life and retire with a great royal package. In his retirement, he could have continued to attend his local synagogue, give a few dollars to help the remnant in Jerusalem, and maybe go on a mission trip to Jerusalem every now then. Instead, he risked everything as he was led by the Lord to go rebuild the shattered walls of the city of God.
I have been thinking about early retirement a lot lately. However, this morning, the Lord reminded me there are broken walls around the world he needs me to rebuild. The Holy Spirit reminded me not to get too comfortable in my current circumstance, but to find the Nehemiah in me so I can rebuild some broken walls. All week long I have been getting the message that retirement is not God’s plan for me. Instead, I am destined to rebuild broken walls even at the cost of my life.
Maybe there are broken walls in your family you need to rebuild. In some cases, the broken wall maybe your marriage or the relationship with your children. Find the Nehemiah in you and take a leap of faith to start to rebuild those broken walls around you. That may mean going back to the city, or country, or state, or neighborhood you gladly and cheerfully left. Just know the price you will have to pay to rebuild the broken walls the Holy Spirit is instructing you to rebuild is but an investment in God’s divine economy for which you will be handsomely rewarded.
Prayer- Blessed Lord, may your Holy Spirit continue to convict our hearts to find the Nehemiah in us so we can help rebuild the broken walls in this world, in Jesus' Name.