A Time to Rebuild

To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every

purpose under the heaven

...a time to break down,

and a time to build

- Ecclesiastes 3:1,3

No matter who you are, where you’ve come from, or where you’re going, at some point in life you have or will face difficult circumstances of some kind. It may be a tragedy or a loss, it may be an abusive relationship, financial hardship, betrayal or some other hardship. 

How should we respond in times of great difficulty? Let’s take a look at Nehemiah’s response to some very trying circumstances (see Nehemiah chapter 1). One day, unexpectedly, he was brought a disturbing report of events in Jerusalem…


"The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire."


Understandably, Nehemiah was overwhelmed by this news and "sat down and wept, and mourned certain days." After his period of grief, he then took the best course of action available to all who have ever walked through difficulty and grief. He "fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven."


Despite the circumstances, despite his overwhelming sorrow, Nehemiah still remembered that there is a God in heaven. His prayer revealed his heart and his faith. He began, "I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments."


Calling upon the "great and terrible God,” Nehemiah remembered Who is in control of all our days, circumstances and lives. He remembered the mercy and grace of God, and was assured that He would keep His promises to His people. 

When difficulties come into our lives as believers, we can grieve, we can be in sorrow, and we don't have to like it, but we must remember that God is in control. We must remember His faithfulness in time past and hold on to the assurance that he is the God "that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments (Nehemiah 1:5)."


We're not told how long Nehemiah was in his state of mourning over the devastation in Jerusalem, but we do see that he didn't stay there. He turned it over to the Lord, just as we need to do with our sorrows, heartaches and losses. Nehemiah knew and remembered something we must never forget. We have a Father in heaven who is in control; He sees; He hears; He loves; He provides; He keep all His promises; and He has loved us with an everlasting love that will never let us go.


Nehemiah did not stay in his sorrowful state. He took action. He set out to rebuild what had been lost. God promises to restore what the locust has eaten in those difficult times in our lives, but often it takes action on our part to see that come to pass. During the rebuilding process, we must not lose sight of the ultimate goal, which is to draw closer to our loving God, who has allowed the trials for just that purpose.


In the midst of the rebuilding in Jerusalem, Ezra read the law to the people. "And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law." (Nehemiah 8:3.) Imagine such hunger for God and His Word. How many of us are willing to stand from morning until noon, listening to the Words of Life?


Upon hearing God's Word, the people's response was that "they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground" and wept (8:6,9). How often does God's Word move us in such a way? Both Nehemiah and Ezra instructed them not to weep, but to realize "this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 

The psalmist also speaks of the joy of the Lord as his strength. How often do we remember that in the midst of difficulty and sorrow? The joy of the Lord is indeed our strength.



I have found during dark and difficult times that if I begin to praise the Lord for His goodness, choosing to focus on His faithfulness and love, a new strength is mine that would not have been there otherwise. 

Are you in sorrow? Is the road becoming difficult? Then, choose to set this day apart unto the Lord as those in Jerusalem did and rejoice. Lift up your voice to Him and praise His holy name. Then, ask Him to direct so that you, too, can begin to rebuild and restore as Nehemiah did and remember, as he did, "the good hand of my God." (2:8)