This message begins a new series, Rise and Rebuild, based on applications to our life journey from the biblical book of Nehemiah. Pastor Tammy Long shared her recent spiritual pilgrimage through Spain. It was modeled on St. Ignatius’ journey when he developed spiritual exercises. These spiritual exercises include imaginative prayer, recognizing God in both the highs and lows of your day, and God’s grace is all you need. In the evening at the hotel, the breaking news on TV was Iran’s military attacks on Israel, and the US military assisted in shooting down missiles and drones. The Bible is clear that there will be wars and rumors of wars (See Matthew 24:6, Mark 13:7). We live in a fallen and broken world. In our world of media and round the clock reporting, we are inundated with brokenness, pain, and suffering.

Our minds can struggle to take in distressing events and can lead to a decrease in empathy and sensitivity towards the pain and suffering of others. We can experience compassion fatigue in which continuous negative news can diminish our capacity to empathize. Also we may experience psychic numbing in which the scale of suffering is too much. We may experience a reduced sense of urgency to respond to crisis that we see because we are numb to it. We can also experience desensitization from prolonged exposure to violent media content. Desensitization decreases our emotional response to violence and lessens our perception of the severity of a problem. Faced with brokenness and injustice all around us, like Nehemiah, you and I can take it to God for help. Nehemiah deliberately sought and listened with the following four prayer movements in Nehemiah 1:1-11.

First, Nehemiah recounts that God is great and awesome with unfailing covenant love (Verses 5-6a). Second, Nehemiah acknowledges in humility and confession that he has sinned, fallen short, contributed to the brokenness being experienced, and allowed God’s grace of forgiveness to cleanse him, you, and me (Verses 6b-7). Third, as Nehemiah recalls God’s promises, we align with God’s Word, we are reminded of our part for focus and commitment, and God’s promises are sure amidst brokenness, pain, and suffering because God can be trusted (Verses 8-10). Fourth, Nehemiah makes his request to God and responds to God’s leading. God positioned Nehemiah to respond to broken walls all around from people who are not doing well (Verse 11).

Nehemiah’s prayer is a model for us today.