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We have experienced mental, physical, and spiritual brokenness throughout the world. The initial hype of fear has plateaued as we continuously gain knowledge about the COVID-19.
Although we are in an unsettled position, some folks are focused on going back to normalcy.
I don’t believe we will return to the norm which we are accustom. I believe we must rebuild the mental, physical, and spiritual jolts we’ve experienced, and during the process become accustom to the new norm.
How can we rebuild a situation which we don’t have complete answers? The facts which we have obtained is enough for us to rebuild the mental, physical, and spiritual shift or brokenness we’ve experienced.
Rebuilding is a lifestyle which we’ve learn from previous experiences. You may have been homeless, experienced sickness and diseases, economic and family crisis.
Throughout the process of rebuilding we’ve had to shift habits, standards, and economics which we thought would be unreasonable and difficult. During the process we learned that, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning...”
(Ecclesiastes 7:8).
Why? Our faith hopes and sees the unfinished product as complete. Through our experiences we gain knowledge and wisdom which provides insight to the unseen. When the potter works on molding clay into perfection, his intent is to mold it into perfection.
Rebuilding brokenness has been effective since ancient days and the process holds similarities today.
Nehemiah was told his people were in great distress and reproach, and “the wall of Jerusalem is (were) broken down and its [fortified] gates have (had) been burned (destroyed) by fire,”
(Nehemiah 1:3).
He was broken, wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for days. The people were in the condition as we are today, they were mentally, physically, and spiritually broken and scattered. They had sinned against God. Nehemiah prayed that God would remember them.
After consulting with the king, Nehemiah said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your presence, [I ask] that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, so that I may rebuild it,” (Nehemiah 2:5).
The king approved him to rebuild a broken city, but it wasn’t without oppositions. We must remember that the rebuilding process is not easy but can be attained.
I want to share with you a few stages of collective and individual rebuilding.
We must recognize oppositions from those who desire to keep us in a state of brokenness. It was three people that came against Nehemiah, and their purpose was political and religious. We have seen this happen during the pandemic. The conflict of truth, lies, and unknowns from the government to churches. Nehemiah was not intimidated by them as he had received approval from the king and God.
I’ve heard a few preachers say they’ve ask and received approval from the authorities to have services in their church parking lot. Like Nehemiah, getting approval from the authorities negates confusion, violence, and mishaps.
Reposition ourselves, Isolate and prayer, as I often say these words, watch, pray, listen, and observe. Nehemiah left the group he was with and went alone to observe and identify the broken city. Sometimes we have to self evaluate as we begin to reconstruct our brokenness.
Is there anger, strife, hatred, resentment, and selfishness in our hearts? Are we involved with the unrest that our world is experiencing that we forget self care?
During the rebuilding process as we commune with God, we are “...continually renewed in the spirit of your (our) mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude],” (Ephesians 4:23).
“Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness],” (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Stay connected to positive influences. Although his enemies lingered, and Nehemiah and his people were collectively and individually broken, Nehemiah surrounded himself with folks of the same mind, rebuilders. He positioned them according to their professions as they worked to rebuild the temple.
Rebuilding is time consuming. Patience is enduring the obstacles during the rebuilding process. “By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls,”
(Luke 21:19).
Remain focused and watch the enemy as you rebuild brokenness during this crisis. Nehemiah’s enemies threatened and conspired to fight and cause a disturbance, but their plot was disrupted.
“Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day,”
(2 Corinthians 4:16).
~SAR~
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