My health is disintegrating.
I'm never going to recover.
This struggle will never end.
My marriage is broken.
My finances are in shambles.
This relationship can never be repaired.
My kids are a wreck.
I'm a wreck.
I'm a wreck.
I’m completely devastated.
Yes, we’ve all been in a place at one time or another when we would definitely say something or someone in our life is in ruins.
When thinking about our response to something that’s in ruins, I’m reminded about the story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. Upon hearing the news that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins, having been burned with fire, this was his response:
"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)
I think there is something here we need to recognize in how we should respond when faced with devastating news that crushes us to the core.
He acknowledged his hurt and pain.
He wept.
He mourned.
Even went without food for a while!
But he did all this…before God.
When we are smack in the middle of an impossible situation, we bring our hurts before God. We pour out our hearts to him. We don’t have to hold it all together for fear of what might come out of our mouth. I love Nehemiah’s transparency before the God of heaven! He doesn’t hold anything back. He empties himself completely before God.
But the story doesn’t stop there. If you continue reading, you’ll come to chapter 2, verse 17. This is where we gain even more insight into our next step when we are on the brink of despair:
"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.”" (Nehemiah 2:17)
First of all, who are the them he is referring to? He is speaking to his people–fellow Israelites who were exiled with him years before. God’s people!
When we’re faced with devastation, we don’t go running for comfort and support to people who aren’t believers in Christ.
We rally around those who are on the same journey of faith.
And then Nehemiah takes a step of courage.
A step of faith.
A step towards healing.
He doesn’t stay stuck in his despair.
He begins the process of rebuilding.
To stay stuck in misery and hopelessness would be disgraceful. He doesn’t want to stay there! And he realizes he can’t do it alone.
Dear friend, if you are stuck in despair and staring at broken pieces of your life: pour out your heart to God. He knows your pain and hurt. Give it to Him.
But don’t stay there.
Just like Nehemiah, look around you. Lean on your brothers and sisters in Christ. Accept the fact that you can’t rebuild in your own strength.
It might be a long journey to recover from what you’re going through, but I can promise you God will lead you one step at a time, just as he guided Nehemiah through one brick at a time.
He’s a master at taking things in ruins and redeeming them for His glory!
