“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived this work was done by our God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NKJV)

God is not only able to rebuild places and things, but He is also able to rebuild people and dreams. The context of our devotional passage shares with us how God miraculously rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity in a mere 52 days. Protection from those outside of the city made it a necessity that the walls be rebuilt. Please understand that He could have done it instantaneously, in one day, or in whatever way that He would choose because He is sovereign. There is much revelation to be gleaned from the leadership of Nehemiah and how he can provide profitable and productive life lessons regarding how we can rebuild the broken, breached, and battered areas of our own life. As a result, there are some very powerful parallels that must be offered for our consideration.

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem only to find the walls that once stood tall, encompassing the city, had been broken down and burned. It caused him to weep and reveal his passion for his purpose. He responded to the king, “I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:5b (NKJV) It is imperative that we have the passion and desire to see our circumstance beyond the intense pain or immediate problem. Are you interested in rebuilding your life? Restoring what God has graced you to be and become? Without passion, you will not have the power to proceed. It will be virtually impossible to rise from the ashes of your most debilitating circumstance. Once your passion and purpose is assured and you have determined that you are no longer willing to remain in the state that you are in God will provide you with the vision to rebuild the broken places in your life. However, you must be careful. You can’t share what God is doing to help you rebuild your life with any and everybody. “Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; but I told no one what God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2:12 (NKJV)

An individual named Sanballat, when the rebuilding of the walls began, laughed and mocked Nehemiah. Make a footnote right here. He was a secret enemy. Poised to harm, hinder, and halt Nehemiah’s vision to rebuild the walls. This same spirit may rule and reign in the hearts of those who we believe are our closest allies or friends. It is best that we be aware. Not paranoid but discerning of those who may secretly pray and wish for our defeat or failure. Our confidence is in the undeniable fact that God will provide. Not only will God provide, but He himself will become our provision when and if necessary. “So I answered them, “The God of heaven himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build.” Nehemiah 2:20a (NKJV) When we establish our passion to rebuild the waste places God will prosper us. No matter the lot of the haters, debaters, and naysayers, God will work it out for our good and His glory.

It’s really not a matter of days, months, or years. When God’s timing is perfected He will help us to rebuild. He will not forsake us in the midst of our most challenging times. For some of us it may be a present rebuilding, for others it may be a seasonal rebuilding; then for some it may be a generational rebuilding. Don’t focus on how long it takes; but focus on the one who is able to complete it no matter what it takes. Rest assured that the secret enemy will know and perceive that our work at rebuilding, restoration, and revival is from God and God alone.