Creating an ImpactSýnishorn

Burdened and Broken

Nehemiah was in deep distress when he heard of the situation at Jerusalem. The walls of the city were broken down and the gates were burned. When a city has its walls broken down, it implies disgrace, defeat, and dishonor; it ceases to be a location of worth, importance, and prosperity, among other things.

Nehemiah was in a position of power, authority, and comfort. He dwelled in a citadel. In our times, that would translate as a sea-facing skyscraper in Worli, Mumbai. He had struggled to attain this life in a foreign land. What was it for him if Jerusalem was in disgrace?

But something happened within Nehemiah; something in him was triggered by this piece of information and burdened his heart so badly that he could not just let it pass. The news that he heard consumed him from inside out. Nehemiah was pregnant with a burden for Jerusalem. His position, influence, and affluence did not matter at all. What mattered was his burden. The Bible says, he sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed.

The burden that Nehemiah carried helped him discover his purpose. Success is not everything. It is not the most important thing, but the purpose is everything and is the most important thing.

The purpose is the ‘why’, the reason why you exist. The purpose is your divine design. When you identify your ‘why’, you will comprehend the ‘what’ and understand the ‘how’. When you engage with your purpose, you will be satisfied, fruitful and will create value.

You could identify with your purpose by ENGAGING with your talents; ACTING on a burden that consumes you; IDENTIFYING the source that helps you to create an impact on others.

Nehemiah realized he had to act. Restoration of the broken walls at Jerusalem and bringing back the lost glory was paramount to him. This was his purpose; this was the reason for his birth and this was to be his legacy.

The brokenness of the marketplace should burden us, we need to move from being interested in becoming burdened and in that burden, perhaps, find our purpose to be the light and the salt.

Dear Lord, give us Your burden for the lost world and help us find our specific purpose in the marketplace. Amen