Wednesday Word: Rebuild

Doubt and despair can leave us living in rubble. When we are exposed to an extremely traumatic event or we grow up in a household that is very dysfunctional and traumatic we learn to protect ourselves emotionally in different ways. As we grow up that same way of protecting ourselves is embedded like a bad habit the same way some people bite their nails. Later, extreme emotional stress can trigger this "protective" stance without the person even being aware it's happening. Some people will "break" where the bridge between themselves and their emotions disintegrates under the load of the emotional stress. Whatever your protective way is, when it explodes it's with a fantastic boom!  And then there we are left living in the rubble wondering how in the world we get back to "normal" or if we even want to get back there again. The problem is that you cannot feel joy if you cannot feel pain. Rebuilding is the only option. You press on.
When I think of rebuilding I think of Nehemiah, not because he was such a great leader; I think of the entire book and the story held within. Here was a people group, disgraced and their city in shambles. The people were quite literally living in rubble. They had attempted repair of the temple, but it was as if they had given up. They had been defeated by two enemies, the one outside and the one inside. I think we can all identify with them. It wasn't until Nehemiah, a cupbearer, came along with a heart heavy for the people and heart set on God's work. What did Nehemiah do that was so special? He prayed and he prayed and he prayed. Throughout the book, just like in David's beginning years, you will find that Nehemiah found no reason to do anything before consulting God. And when they began to work on rebuilding the city, the enemy was very displeased. Do you think it will be any different with yourself?

Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.Neh4:7-9 (emphasis mine)

Rebuilding brokenness is never easy. The enemy is not out to give you a break. Satan is not about a fair fight, so please don't expect one. This is a fight for the soul, for eternity. No one in this is giving up until it's over. That's why I emphasized that last part of the passage. Nehemiah prayed AND set up a guard. We pray and we guard our hearts because we know we are vulnerable right now. Why do we pray? Check out verse 20.

At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.

The people were spread thin from their work, tired, and becoming a little frightened (not unlike you in the shadow of the valley, aye?). This is why I like Nehemiah. Too often in despair, we read the Scripture and allow the enemy to whisper into our ear that it doesn't apply to us. We allow ourselves to believe that it simply won't work for OUR situation. "That's a nice thought, but it just doesn't actually work". Ever had that thought? Ever doubted that the Scripture can actually be applied in brokenness? Nehemiah is Scripture working ON brokenness...literally. Life may break you, but that's not where the story ends, EVER. God did not sacrifice His Son so you can give up there. God did not create you with a purpose so that you could live in the rubble. There's more for you than that. But if you never seek Him out, if you never take to Him what is breaking you apart, He can't rebuild you. Let God rebuild and remake you into what He has purposed you for which is His glory. Let what was meant for destruction be rebuilt and be made beautiful by the Creator. It can be done and trust me when I say, it's never too late until the last breath is taken. Go to Him.

When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Neh6:16

 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13