BROKENNESS

Nehemiah 1:3-4
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Nehemiah’s Concern for Jerusalem

3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.


When you are confronted with brokenness in the lives of those around you, what is your response? When you see the homeless, do you turn away? When you see the hungry or thirsty, do you ignore their situation? When you encounter the sick (physical or spiritual), do you cross to the other side of the street (move to the other side of town) to avoid contact?

That wasn’t Nehemiah’s response. He wept … he mourned … he fasted … he sought direction from the God of heaven.

What would the God of heaven have you to do? What would he say about your response?