By Will Heydel
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-19, Isaiah 40:9-11, Isaiah 40:28-31, 2 Timothy 4:17-18
Within the last week of writing this devotional, my mother underwent a successful double lung transplant. After waiting and praying for a new, healthy pair of lungs for eighty days, my dad, mom, and the rest of our family embarked on the next part of this healing journey, trusting that this was what God planned, wanted, and intended. These were the lungs meant for her, despite the risks of rejection, challenges, and potential setbacks along the way. We were all keenly aware of these realities and were open about them, but we turned to God in prayer each day for strength for my mom and for guidance and discernment for all who were caring for her.
At this point in Israel’s history, God sent Nehemiah to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which the Babylonians had destroyed. Nehemiah, like my mom, faced numerous challenges and potential setbacks. For Nehemiah, these challenges include physical threats, false accusations, and even deceit from his own people. Yet he turned to God.
“But now, my God, strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9). The enemy seeks to instill doubt and fear. Nehemiah’s response to lies, false accusations, and discouragement reminds us to recognize the enemy’s deception for what it is and to turn to the source of truth. His perseverance was grounded in reliance on God through prayer. When we encounter opposition, challenges, setbacks, or unforeseen turns in life, prayer becomes not just a moment of solace but a powerful act of depending on God’s strength.
Despite opposition from both the workers and Nehemiah himself, the wall of Jerusalem was completed. In verse 15, we read that despite all the obstacles, “the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God” (Nehemiah 6:15–16).
The story of Nehemiah reminds us that God’s purposes will be accomplished, even when we face opposition, discouragement, and fear. The wall in Jerusalem was completed not because Nehemiah was perfect or immune to hardship but because he trusted in God’s word, strength, and power. I do not know what tomorrow holds for my mom as her body continues to adjust to her new lungs. The Lord has given her the strength to do things that many others haven’t been able to do so soon after the transplant. While it has been challenging and there could be setbacks, because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we all, by faith, believe that God will rescue us from every evil work and bring us safely home into His heavenly kingdom (2Timothy 4:18). For now, we go to God and ask him to strengthen our hands, lift our hearts, and complete the good work He has started in us (Philippians 1:6).
Written by Will Heydel
Post Comments (0)