How do you handle an overwhelming, impossible project? And make no mistake, the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem certainly fell into that category. Yes, some of the Jews who had been carried off into exile in Babylon had been allowed to return by the Persian kings (Ezra 1:1-4). And yes, they’d been able to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 6:15) and resume the worship of God as prescribed in the Law of Moses.

But there were very few people living in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:4), and no wonder – without a large, well-trained army, an ancient city without walls simply wasn’t safe. Instead, its citizens were subject to the depredations of any wandering band of thieves or thugs that might be passing by. The situation was so bad that, when Nehemiah heard about it, he wept and mourned for days (Nehemiah 1:4). And there was no way that the impoverished, powerless inhabitants of the city could do anything about it.

So, what did Nehemiah do? Yes, he used his influence with the king to request permission to rebuild the walls, along with considerable royal financial support (Nehemiah 2:5,8). Yes, he organized the citizens of Jerusalem to participate in the project (Nehemiah 2:17-18). Yes, he organized a defense force to deal with any enemy attacks that might bring the work to a halt (Nehemiah 4:13, 16-23). And yes, he contributed generously to the project, as well as to the cost of governing the province, so the people’s taxes wouldn’t have to be increased. (Nehemiah 5:14-16)

But throughout the whole process, Nehemiah continued in prayer. He fasted and prayed, asking God’s blessing on his efforts even before talking with the King about the project (Nehemiah 1:5-11). When enemies tried to put a stop to the project, Nehemiah prayed that God would foil their plans (Nehemiah 4:4-5, 9).

And his prayers indicated his complete dependence on God. In fact, he gave all the credit to God for the support he received from the King of Persia (Nehemiah 2:8, 18). He maintained that God was the One Who had frustrated the plans of their enemies (Nehemiah 4:15), and that God would continue to fight for His people, no matter what opposition they might face (Nehemiah 4:20).

And we can have the same hope, for we serve the same God. So, no matter how difficult the problems we may face today, let us hold them before the Lord in prayer, trusting in His provision and protection. And then let’s join hands with others who are willing to help us do the best we can, trusting God to accomplish His will in His time.

Nehemiah 2:17-20 (NASB)

17 Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach.”
18 And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me, and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”