Rebuilding

With all the hurricanes over the past several years, I’m remembering when Hurricane Isabel hit Virginia. Isabel came up the Inlet Waterway and hit the Virginia Beach-Norfolk area and then travelled north to the Chesapeake Bay. It then did a U-turn and came back and hit the same area again. Carolyn and I were living in Portsmouth, and she was working at a hospital. The hospital management told her to bring a suitcase and plan to stay at the hospital. The storm did major damage in the Hampton area and on the south side of the Chesapeake Bay. Houses were ripped from their foundations. One man told me he had always wanted a boat, and he had 21 boats now in his front yard! Some homes had to be raised up six and eight feet before they were allowed to rebuild. Debris was everywhere and it took two, three and four weeks before the electricity was restored.

Nehemiah 2:17 says the city was in ruins, and the wall was rendered useless. Nehemiah made a statement that energized the citizens of Jerusalem, “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me.” Immediately the people replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” Rebuilding the wall seemed like an impossible task, but the people of Jerusalem – under Nehemiah’s leadership – rebuilt the wall in just 52 days. (Nehemiah 6:15)

The people of the Tidewater area did rebuild. Houses were lifted up on stilts, church walls and roofs were replaced, and what seemed impossible became reality. What are you facing that seems impossible? Is there a sin you can’t conquer? Do you have a “destroyed wall” situation that needs attention? Ask God for guidance (Nehemiah 2:4-5), analyze the problem (vv. 11-15) and recognize God’s involvement (v. 18). Once you do this – start rebuilding!

Prayer: Lord, I need your help. Help me understand the situation and then to seek your help in solving the problem.  These things I ask I the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Nehemiah 2:18 – “They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: Canva