I cannot come down.

This generation is hungry for a better version of the Church—one that makes people a priority. Nehemiah was determined to finish what they’d started. He knew a generation was struggling to decide what they believed about God based on what was going on around them. When Sanballat requests a meeting with him, Nehemiah responds with the kind of steady drive that we’ve come to expect from him. He says that the work is too important to stop and that he can’t come down off the wall. And it’s one of the most powerful moments in the story. 

I imagine that there were workers and guards nearby that heard his reply that day, and it compelled them to stand a little straighter. If he can keep going, then so can I. I can’t come down either. That’s our job—mine and yours. To keep going, to refuse to come down off of the ‘wall’, and to keep our eyes fixed on the finish line. The mission of restoring families and individuals to the Father is that important. 

Together, the people rebuilt the walls and gates of Jerusalem in 52 days. To the astonishment of the skeptics. To the amazement of the leaders and families.

But most importantly to the wonderment of a generation of kids and teenagers that were sitting on the sidelines questioning whether or not God would come through. In the end, He did, and He used broken, disillusioned people to do it. He used cupbearers, politicians, merchants, laborers, moms, dads, and even children to do it. His strength was made perfect in their collective weakness, and something miraculous had come of it. 

God didn’t show up in an obvious way. The wall wasn’t fixed overnight in a cloud of fire and thunder. He showed up in the still small voice. He showed up in the people. He changed their perspective about whose responsibility it was to fix their situation, and He gave them strength enough to do what needed to be done. The result wasn’t just a rebuilt city. It was the restoration of an entire nation’s ability to dream and believe that God was for them. God wants to do the same in your community, in your family, in your church, and in this world. And once again, He wants to use His people to do it. If you find yourself among the ranks of the broken and disillusioned, if disappointment has robbed you of your ability to dream and believe, and if you wonder if a person like you is up to the job that God has called you do, put your fears to rest. You aren’t alone. And you also aren’t strong enough to do this work—not on your own. But the job isn’t just for you. It’s for all of us. And the Church is more than capable of rebuilding these gates because we know Who goes before us.