Some nights you fall asleep so deeply, that the next day you don’t want to get out of bed.  Some nights you can’t sleep, and you can’t wait to get out of bed.  Some nights you sleep, but you might as well be awake as you are dreaming of work.  We’ve all been there.  It’s those times in our lives when we face a daunting challenge.  We never know from where that challenge will come.  Often it is a project at work.  Sometimes it is even the job itself.  What do we do?  How?  Where can we find guidance for our work life?  Of course, there are many books on work to read, so many we don’t know where to start. In the modern world, we listen to podcasts and watch TED Talks for insight.  What we may not realize is that God’s Word shares a great example of getting things done.  Our example is in the book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was of the nation of Israel, and had been exiled to another nearby country in the continuing battles for regional supremacy of that time.  Even as a Jew, he had risen to a fairly high position, serving as an assistant to the king himself.  You might say he had it made.  But, Nehemiah realized one day that his city was in need.  Men from his home had come to visit, and shared a terrible story.  Walls torn down, gates shattered and tossed aside, and damage from the fires of a conquering army had made his city desolate.  It really wasn’t much of a city any more.

Hearing this report, Nehemiah was, in a word, broken-hearted.  We can imagine how we might feel, learning that our childhood home was burned and destroyed.  The emotional impact was so strong that Nehemiah could think of nothing else for days.  Nehemiah realized that he had a new job.  He had to rebuild the city.

When you read God’s Word, it is easy to let your eyes follow the words along, to read quickly, and to see that Nehemiah had a new job.  Sure.  Rebuild the city.  Wait!  Are you kidding me?  Rebuild a city?  If you’re like me, you can’t even rebuild the broken down decorative fence that surrounds the air conditioning unit at your home.   If you’re like me, you have several projects in the garage that are almost done.  Or almost started.  Or maybe you just need to go and find that special tool for the job, and then you can get started.  Rebuild a city?

How could Nehemiah even start?  Let’s look at the first two chapters and see how God’s Word gives principles about getting things done…

Verse	Observation	Application
1:2b	Nehemiah asks about his people	Do we have interests of others in mind?
1:4a	Nehemiah has true empathy	Do we emotionally respond to what we learn?
1:4b-10	Nehemiah takes time to think and pray	Do we react on our own too quickly?
1:11	Nehemiah prepares for the task	Do we prepare?
2:2b-2:3	Nehemiah overcomes fear in faith	Do we rely on God?
2:4	Nehemiah answers questions with prayer	Do we ask God to give us words for our response?
2:3, 2:4b	Nehemiah maintains faith-work balance	Do we maintain respect for our faith and work?
2:6-9	Nehemiah has a big picture view and communicates well	Do we create a vision and share the big picture clearly?
2:11-12	Nehemiah avoids making a quick judgment and solution	Do we take time to fully understand?
2:14-15	Nehemiah is diligent in adverse conditions	Do we continue when stopping would be easier?
2:16	Nehemiah does not share too quickly	Do we communicate too soon?
2:17	Nehemiah builds consensus and shares God’s grace	Do we bring others alongside our vision?
2:18a	Nehemiah highlights God’s graciousness	Do we share how God provides for us?
2:18b	Nehemiah lets the team work	Do we try to do it all?
2:19	Nehemiah faces ridicule	Do we expect smooth sailing?
2:20	Nehemiah gives God glory and restates his servanthood	Do we respond in faith and with grace?

To be sure, Nehemiah had an amazing challenge, one we will likely never face, to rebuild a city.  No doubt this vision was inspired by God.  But, in our everyday work, we all face challenges.  How we respond to our challenges is actually a chance for us to be like Nehemiah!  We can learn from his experience, and follow his principles.  The story of Nehemiah is one of reliance on God, and using God’s gifts to us.   Leadership, humility, wisdom, graciousness, and tenacity are all character traits God desires in us.  We can overcome challenges best if we employ God’s gifts to us, respond in faith, and give God the glory.