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"Therefore the king said to me, 'Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.' So I became dreadfully afraid."
(Nehemiah 2:2)
Every person is important to God, and I believe that God has a special assignment that only you can fulfill. Now, it may not be rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem like Nehemiah or some other high-profile task, but rest assured, if you know God and are walking with Him, He has assignments for you and only you. He wants you to step up and get busy! Warren Wiersbe writes, "One person can make a big difference in this world, if that person knows God and really trusts in Him. Because faith makes a difference, we can make a difference in our world to the glory of God." (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Determined (p. 23). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
God put it on the heart of Nehemiah to return and rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. We see already in him the traits of a powerful leader: he asks good questions, he is compassionate, he is spiritual, he is connected to God through the Word of God and prayer, and he is about to go big for God. The task ahead is so large that unless God intervenes and acts, Nehemiah is destined to fail.
I love Nehemiah for many reasons. A big one is, he knew there was a time to pray and a time to act. He prayed when he needed to pray, and he acted when it came time to act. He had been praying and waiting for around four months at the time of chapter 2 verse 2. Good things come to those who wait, but I would also like to add that good things come to those who work. Around April of 444 BC, Nehemiah was at work, doing his job. His job was the cupbearer of the king, and that was a job of high importance and privilege in the ancient world. Because of his profession, Nehemiah enjoyed, as one writer put it, "considerable influence" and "constant access" to the king. (The Believer's Study Bible, p. 651.)
Nehemiah was a good employee. He did what was expected of him, and up until this day, he had never once shown up for work sad. He was a cheerful, encouraging, and God-fearing man, and I also believe he was someone like Joseph, whom God gave favor in the sight of the king. Someone said 80% of success is showing up, and there is a lot of truth to that. Showing up and doing what you are supposed to do puts you in a position to be blessed and promoted. By the way, if no one has thanked you lately for the good job you are doing at work, let me thank you. Thank you for working hard, providing for your family, and giving your best.
In verse 2, Nehemiah was sad, and some believe he meant to appear sad, because this was the big day when he would ask the king to release him to do his great work of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. He was fearful, because a sad countenance may suggest dissatisfaction with the king. "A servant was never to let his negative emotions show before the king, for it might suggest dissatisfaction with the king. To do so might jeopardize his position or even his life. Also Nehemiah knew that his request was a bold one." (Getz, G. A. (1985). Nehemiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 675–676). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Courage is not the absence of fear but moving forward in spite of the fear. To take risks and step out in faith is not easy, which is perhaps why most live quiet, predictable lives. Don't get me wrong: I like quiet and predictable; change is hard. But as a leader, especially a leader in the Church in post-Christian America, you have to be good with change and implement it often. Nehemiah heard the call of God and the cries of his people firsthand from his brother Hanani and the others mentioned in Nehemiah 1:3. So, this bold risk-taking leader, Nehemiah, rises to the occasion and initiates the conversation with the king by allowing the king to see his sad face.
How about you? Are you willing to wait, change, or take risks for a better future, for a better tomorrow where more are reached with the good news of Jesus Christ?
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Help children build a lasting foundation.
Point the kids in your life to Jesus with a copy of the Bedtime Devotions with Jesus Bible.
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What's After? Pt. 1
Pastor Danny begins a new series, delving into what happens to us after we die. This series will explore what the Bible has to say about death, heaven, and hell, as well as the recorded experiences of people who have lived through near death experiences (NDEs).
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