God-Given Dreams: Nehemiah and Following God’s Instruction

Knock, knock. I stood praying in the kitchen when the unexpected knock on the front door came. It was a rough season. I’d been laid off from my job without warning. Preparing to welcome our second child, we depended on my income to make ends meet. We just needed a few more things for the baby girl’s arrival, like a bathtub and other small items. Someone knocked on the door while I was talking to God about buying things for the baby.

Sunlight streamed in through the widening crack as the door swung open. The shadowy silhouette of a neighbor I barely knew spilled over onto the entryway tile. She held a pink baby bathtub filled with baby items, the things I’d prayed for. That day, her kindness started the process of preparing me for a call from God, which came four years later.

In 2016, I sensed the call to ministry, abruptly followed by the end of my marriage. My elementary-aged kids and I moved from California to Tennessee shortly after. Since then, I have faced financial hardship as a single mother. Long before God called me to DTS and ministry work, he prepared me to trust in his goodness and provision. 

Often, before giving us his specific directions, God leads us through a preparation process for what lies ahead. When God asks something of us, he equips and empowers us to see the work through in his way and time. In the first two chapters of Nehemiah, we find principles to help us prepare for and follow God’s calling.

When God asked Nehemiah, then in exile from his homeland, to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, Nehemiah felt sorrow and distress for his kinfolk. We might imagine the fear we’d feel at such an overwhelming assignment, and the questions we’d ask ourselves about our qualifications and authority to lead. A Hebrew exile living in Persia, Nehemiah had become the trusted cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Approaching the king for favor was an intimidating prospect.

God-driven assignments can disrupt our preconceived notions and challenge our established routines. We may try to figure things out on our own, but God wants us simply to trust him enough to take an initial step in faith, however halting and uncertain that step may be. Like Nehemiah, we may feel intimidation and distress when God asks us to do something for him. When God called me—a broken, divorced, single mother—to seminary and ministry, I needed God’s help beyond what I could then imagine. In this unlikely scenario, God challenged me to grow in my trust in him, one step at a time. To begin takes a step of faith instead of holding back in fear.

Before approaching King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah talked to God, the supreme King. And when Nehemiah did speak to Artaxerxes, the Persian king trusted his cupbearer and appreciated his service; he was so concerned about Nehemiah’s dejected countenance that he asked what was wrong. Artaxerxes recognized a change in Nehemiah’s demeanor and graciously permitted him to speak his mind. Nehemiah wanted to lead the Hebrew project to repair the broken walls of Jerusalem; God softened the king’s heart as Nehemiah presented his request. 

As humans created for connection and dependence on God and one another, we seek people to engage in life and ministry with us. In rebuilding the wall, Nehemiah found like-minded coworkers—and we too must rely on others to help us do the work God has planned for us. God provides both the direction and the resources to begin. Whom has God placed around you to prepare you for your task and help you along the way? My parents and my newfound Tennessee church community encouraged and supported my endeavors to pursue the journey God placed before me. As part of my ministry preparation, God has provided a tribe to keep me focused and moving forward with enthusiasm. When my head is buried in books and papers, my middle-school kids lack nothing.

Nehemiah prepared in advance for his conversation with King Artaxerxes. He created a timeline for the construction project, planned his action steps, and listed his supply needs, ready to answer the king. Nehemiah’s well-thought-out plan impressed the king, who agreed to let him depart for Jerusalem to help the Hebrews rebuild the city wall. God influenced the heart of the king; Nehemiah’s preparations secured the king’s permission and assistance. Artaxerxes gave his blessing to Nehemiah to embark on the long journey from the citadel in Susa to Jerusalem and provided him with building supplies and official letters that ensured safe passage through enemy territory.

As Samwise Gamgee says in The Fellowship of the Ring, “It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish” (J. R. R. Tolkien, 426). Nehemiah teaches us to start the journey when God calls, even when the first step seems far distant. Create an actionable plan to move toward your goals; work hard to accomplish the task God has shown you. 

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he inspected the city walls before communicating his repair plan to the local community. He listened to the Lord’s voice rather than the opposition’s, and he kept his plans discreet until the proper time for revelation. As we prepare, we must be bold yet careful, trusting that God works behind the scenes to advance the dream he gives you.

What do we conclude from the example of Nehemiah? When God calls you to action, respond in faith and act. Take one step at a time in faith before knowing all the details. Pray before beginning your task, asking the Lord to connect you with people who can assist. Prepare a structured plan. Be discreet about your plans until God reveals the proper time to begin. And when that time arrives, be bold, confident in God’s provision and continued guidance.