In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, the king was about to be served wine. I took the wine and gave it to the king. Since I had never seemed sad in his presence, the king asked me, “Why do you seem sad? Since you aren’t sick, you must have a broken heart!”
I was very afraid and replied, “May the king live forever! Why shouldn’t I seem sad when the city, the place of my family’s graves, is in ruins and its gates destroyed by fire?”
The king asked, “What is it that you need?”
I prayed to the God of heaven and replied, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, please send me to Judah, to the city of my family’s graves so that I may rebuild it.”
After Nehemiah hears the news from Jerusalem, he devises a plan. He wants to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. But one huge obstacle stands in the way: he needs the king’s permission. This is a bold ask for Nehemiah because it requires him not only to take time off from his position as cupbearer, but he must also take a group of people with him from Babylon. It is interesting that Artaxerxes’ response is to ask: “What do you need?” Next, we see Nehemiah clearly and boldly state his request.
Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to do something that requires being bol and stepping out in faith?
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