You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:17-20

Do you ever feel like you’re all alone in the world?  That no one else cares about the things that God has put on your heart?  That if anything is ever going to get done, you’re going to have to do it yourself?

This is one of Satan’s best strategies to discourage you:  to make you feel isolated, alone, without help and without hope.  Let me assure you today, you’re not alone.  There’s always hope.  And God wants to help you more than you know.  The Bible says:

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Nehemiah knew the importance of spending time alone with God.  Up to this point, Nehemiah had only told a few trusted friends about his plans, even inspecting the walls of Jerusalem at night so he could see for himself what needed to be done.  But when it was time to begin the work, he gathered others to help:  the Jews, priests, nobles, officials and all the others who would be doing the work.  When the time was right, Nehemiah told the others of his plans, as recorded in Nehemiah chapter 2:

“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.’  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 2:17-18).

There were still nay sayers who opposed the work:  Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab.  They mocked and ridiculed the Israelites, but Nehemiah simply replied:

“The God of heaven will give us success.  We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Nehemiah was ready to move forward―no matter what―and God moved on the hearts of others to help him along the way. There may be nay sayers in your life who aren’t lifting a finger to help you right now.  But that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.  Gather others to help:  pastors, spouses, friends, relatives, volunteers, paid workers, youth groups.  If you get a “No” from one or two or three or more, just keep asking others, or come back to the same ones at a later time.

I remember asking one man to share his testimony at an event we were putting on in town.  I really felt God had prompted me to ask him.  He said, “No, there’s no way I could do that.”  I went home and prayed again and God kept putting his name on my heart.  I went back to him the next week and asked him again.  Without batting an eye, he said, “Sure, I’d be glad to do it!”  His testimony turned out to be one of the highlights of the event.

I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve felt like I was all alone in what God had called me to do.  But the truth is, I also couldn’t count the number of times God has sent people to help me to do what He’s put on my heart to do.  It’s taken persistence, time and a continual realization that there’s no way I would be able to do it on my own.  That, plus knowing that God is for me―not against me―in the plans that He’s put on my heart, has helped me to continue to gather others to help along the way.

Don’t let Satan keep you down.  Don’t give in when he tries to magnify the negative and minimize the positive in your life.  Keep coming back to God and let Him strongly support you in what you’re doing.  Take courage from the story of Nehemiah and keep asking others for help.  I pray for you that like Nehemiah, “the God of heaven will give you success.”

Prayer: Father, help me know who to ask for help.  Help me have the wisdom and the discretion to ask those who can truly help with my situation.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.