Rebuilding with Nehemiah -- Requesting Help

When Nehemiah heard about the disgrace of the broken gates and walls of Jerusalem he cared enough to confront God with the problem and ask for help. He then pushed through his fear and ask the King for help and supplies. Nehemiah formulated a plan for success and left for Jerusalem to once again ask for help.

Nehemiah 2:11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem

Notice that Nehemiah was responding to what God had put in his heart to do. God will put a desire in your heart for change, growth, transformation.

Nehemiah had a plan for restoration and now after surveying the damage he was ready to ask for help. Asking for help from others who are our peers can be one of the most difficult tasks to complete in the restoration process. It’s admitting, not just to ourselves but to others,that we have a problem and need help. It’s humbling to ask for help but it’s a necessary step in the restoration process. Ask God for the courage and then step out and ask.

I remember when I took courage and stepped out to ask for help only to be turned down. The person was too busy. I felt embarrassed and exposed. But what I learned was I had asked the wrong person – someone already too busy, too far removed from my life. I needed to pray and ask the Lord to show me who to ask for support -- someone who had been through what I was going through. I know this is not easy but it is necessary.

17 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.

Nehemiah asked for help and he received it. I have to believe that it’s because God had given this desire to Nehemiah and he was walking in the favor and will of the Lord. God had really prepared these people’s hearts for repairing the walls. God can prepare hearts to respond to yours. .

In the Third chapter of Nehemiah we find this phrase: “Next to him, the repairs were made by…” The chapter gives a mental picture of people lined up all along the wall repairing or restoring their particular part of the wall of Jerusalem. This tells me a couple of things: 1) We’re not in this process alone. We work side by side with others who need to perform restoring work in their own lives. It’s a common need and occurrence. 2) We need help in the restoring process. We cannot do it alone. We need prayer support, encouragement, and sometimes instruction or counseling.

Remember, we’re not in this alone. Most of us have areas of our lives that need restoring. Many of us have been through this process and need to stand ready to answer “yes.” Let’s ask for the support we need and get on with the rebuilding process – “let’s start building

Rebuilding with Nehemiah -- Plan to Succeed

“Because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.” Nehemiah 2:9

Nehemiah requested permission from the King to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the gates and walls. “It pleased the King to send me, so I set a time.”

Nehemiah set a time for rebuilding which meant he had to have a plan in mind for how long it would take to travel, gather materials, rally the workers and accomplish the task. Nehemiah had a plan of action. Do we have a plan of action for rebuilding an area of our lives? Or are we just floating along and being thrown around by every wave of opposition?

To fail to plan is to plan to fail. So to encourage success, we need a plan for rebuilding. What is it that needs rebuilt? What will it take to rebuild? Is there a time limit for keeping focused? What kind of help or support will we need?

Because Nehemiah had a plan he knew exactly what to ask the King to supply for him – safe passage, timber, and letters of permission. Nehemiah was serious and committed to his plan. The King saw this and was gracious to Nehemiah and granted all his requests.

Do we believe that it’s God’s will for us to rebuild? If so we need to pray for wisdom, survey the need and make a plan of action and ask the Lord to supply all we need. Many times we “have not because we ask not.” If we have a plan of action it will give us more boldness in asking.

God wants to bless us and He’s just waiting for us to ask. What are you waiting for?