Patience, Planning and Prayer

There, in front of you, lies a jigsaw puzzle in a mountain of unconnected pieces. Do you:
            Walk on by?
            Line up all the edge pieces first?
            Group them by colors?
            Ask someone else to help?
            Work, undaunted, until it’s done?
The Bible tells us about Nehemiah who served as the cupbearer for the king when the Jewish people were taken captive to Babylon. After hearing about the destruction of Jerusalem and the walls that had been broken down, Nehemiah was filled with sadness and grief. He prayed to God for guidance, and God gave him a vision and passion for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah stepped into the challenge!

Nehemiah knew that this would be a daunting task, but he was determined to see it through. He went to the king and asked for permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. The king granted his request, and Nehemiah set about planning the project.
Nehemiah surveyed the damage to the walls and assessed the resources that would be needed. He then divided the work into manageable tasks and assigned teams to each task. He also appointed leaders to oversee the work and to ensure that it was done properly.
Nehemiah's leadership and planning were essential to the success of the project. He was able to motivate the people to work hard, and managed to keep the project on track, even when he encountered opposition and ridicule from local leaders. One local skeptic, Tobiah, suggested that even if a fox climbed up on the wall it would fall over (Nehemiah 4:3). However, Nehemiah was not discouraged. He persevered, and God blessed their work, and the wall was successfully rebuilt.

The Book of Nehemiah in the Bible provides us with valuable lessons about leadership and planning. Here are a few of the key lessons:

• Leadership starts with a vision. Nehemiah had a clear vision for what he wanted to achieve. He knew that the walls of Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt, and he was determined to see it through.
• Leadership requires planning. Nehemiah didn't just start rebuilding the walls without a plan. He first surveyed the damage and assessed the resources that would be needed. He did this at night in a confidential manner, wanting first to assess before sharing the vision.
• Leadership requires motivation. Nehemiah was a person of influence and knew that the people would need to be motivated to work hard on the project. He reminded them of the importance of rebuilding the walls. He reminded them that God had given them permission and blessing.
• Leadership requires perseverance. Even despite the challenges mentioned above, Nehemiah never gave up. He kept the project on track and he eventually accomplished the goal.

What can we learn from Nehemiah that we can apply in everyday life? He sought God’s leading and direction. He wanted to seek and do God’s will. He addressed the task in an organized and well-thought-out manner. God gave him the vision, he planned, he motivated people to get onboard, and he persevered.
Those are great attributes and actions, but there is another side to Nehemiah.  He was humble and approachable. He was willing to listen to the advice of others, and he was not afraid to ask for help when he needed it. He was fair, just, and addressed the needs of the people while taking on this God-given assignment.

4821 Ponderings:

• How have you felt when you encounter one obstacle after another: frustrated, discouraged, angry, victimized, questioning, or confident that God is leading and will provide what you need?
• Based on the example of Nehemiah, how can you prepare for external and internal adversity that you may encounter?
• When you think about God’s calling on your life, what is the greatest need/question/struggle you feel you currently face?
• Pray for an openness for God to use you. Anticipate the opportunity God will provide and respond to it.