One of my favorite, most recent worship songs is “Another One” by Elevation Worship.
“You do everything on purpose, I can feel Your spirit-stirring. I’ve been praying, You’ve been working - working it all for good.”
It’s a song that has caused this phrase: “of this, I am sure” to replay in my mind over and over again. It’s a song that has helped me believe during a time of my faith being stretched. Of this, I am sure, that He who has promised is faithful.
In the last month or so, my heart has been heavy with the thought of the countless people who are suffering around me. During this month, I have received news of people losing their children, their family members, their health, their jobs, not having food to eat, or even finances to pay their bills. Many of the people in my circle are fighting for healing, fighting against the lies of the enemy, and overall fighting through the suffering and those silent battles that no one sees. It has been a trying month for so many - and yet, the phrase “of this I am sure” keeps ringing loud and true, that He who promised is faithful.
Nehemiah was a cup-bearer to the King of Persia. He was born in Persia himself, but his parents were from Jerusalem. Nehemiah had a comfortable life; he was a man of status and was highly trusted to make sure the King and his guests were always taken care of. Yet, something in Nehemiah stirred when he heard that the homeland of his parents, Jerusalem, had its city walls torn down and the city gates burned (v. 3). Not only did this text highlight the condition of the land, but its people - stating that they were “in great trouble and disgrace".” At this news of suffering, Nehemiah is devastated, sat down and wept, and took his burdens to God through fasting and prayer (v.4). His response reminds us to make space for pain and grief - and to allow God to restore.
What spoke to me about Nehemiah was his approach. He knew that God’s word promised “But if you return to me and obey my command, then even if your exiled people at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.” (v.9) Nehemiah knew that if God only allowed it, he could be used to bridge the gap in this moment of suffering. Of this, I am sure, that He who promised is faithful.
His intentional time in prayer, and in fasting allows for God to work and give him heaven’s strategy, asking if God could make a way for the King to grant him the opportunity to go to Jerusalem and help those in suffering and of course rebuild what was destroyed. God shined favor upon Nehemiah, and the King noticed the sadness he carried for the suffering of Jerusalem and not only noticed but asked him how he could help (v.4"). Nehemiah knew that this was the time to demonstrate boldness - what was it that he needed to carry out the mission God had placed in his heart through the suffering? There was no time to be timid, but to ask God to move in his conversation with the King. Giving God the glory, Nehemiah gets what he asks for, and the King sends him off with what he needs to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. According to David Guzik, “It appears that Nehemiah prayed for four months before he did anything (Nehemiah 2:1). Later when the work of rebuilding the walls actually begins, it only takes 52 days to finish the job. But that 52-day project had a four-month foundation of prayer.”
In all transparency, sometimes the suffering is so loud, that I don’t even know what to pray for. Yet, Nehemiah is proof - that our Father is a God who desires closeness, and realness from His children. He desires our persistence - like Jacob who wrestled with God in Genesis for his blessing “I will not move until You bless me.” That is our call to action in our suffering too - “of this I am sure” that God is, like Hagar says herself “the God who sees me” and so we hold on to the hope that He is the God who makes way in our suffering and restores. When I don't know what to pray, I will remind myself of the God who sees me.
What good could come out of our suffering? Well, they said what good could come out of Nazareth in John too and look at what did: Jesus.
Even through the mockery, Nehemiah stood firm, “of this I am sure” - and knew that God would give him the success he prayed for.
Through Nehemiah’s story - I have been burdened to reflect on the way I am quickly grieved by a situation of brokenness - and how quickly I have responded. How am I engaging with God in the suffering, whether it is regarding myself or regarding those around me? Do I act in steadiness, in wisdom, and most importantly in prayer? Am I paying attention to how God is showing up NOW? Of this, I am sure, that He who promised is faithful! He is in the details, in the midst of all of the suffering and the unexpected.
And so, daughters, this is a reminder that if He did it before - He will do it again - even in your suffering.
Say it with me, “of this I am sure that He who promised is faithful!”
Listen to Another One by Elevation Worship Here!
