Burdened to Build

Scripture:

"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 (NIV)

Devotional Thought:

Nehemiah wasn’t a prophet or a warrior. He was a cupbearer — a servant in the king’s palace. But when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and his people were in trouble, it broke him. He didn’t scroll past the pain. He sat down, wept, fasted, and prayed.

God often places a burden on the heart of those He wants to use. That deep ache you feel for your city, your family, your community — it’s not random. It’s a call. Nehemiah didn’t rush into action; he first went to God. His bold leadership started in broken prayer.

God doesn’t need status to use someone — just a surrendered heart. If you feel the weight of a broken place, don't ignore it. Pray over it. Let it move you. Then, like Nehemiah, be willing to be the answer to your own prayer.

Reflection Questions:

What breaks my heart the way Jerusalem broke Nehemiah’s?

Have I brought my burden before God or tried to carry it alone?

Prayer:

Lord, give me eyes to see what’s broken around me and a heart willing to respond. Help me not to ignore the burden but to bring it to You first. Use me — even in small ways — to rebuild what’s been torn down. Amen.