We truly are emotional beings, some of us maybe more than others. Grief, anger, fear, worry, frustration…we feel’em all. Emotions in and of themselves aren’t bad. I mean, feelings are feelings, and it isn’t healthy to deny them. But when they take over and rule our lives, then they’re detrimental to us. I love reading the Psalms because so often the writers poured out their emotions to God. Taking our worries and cares to Him really is the best place to go. Psalm 116 has some elements of a lament—meaning, the writer was grieving—but there’s also a lot of encouragement, as well. The psalmist knew that when he called on the LORD (yep, there’s that covenant name again), he was heard. God inclined His ear to this man. Picture a loving father leaning close and listening to a child who’s cupped his hand and whispered directly into his daddy’s ear. That’s what God does for us—leans close and listens patiently, lovingly, attentively to our cries. Even to the wordless, pain-filled groans of grief. Because we know that the LORD hears and cares, we can always take our concerns to Him with complete confidence. He is always there for His own.
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As we’ve noted on previous days, Nehemiah became aware of the broken down state of Jerusalem and the despair of its inhabitants, and his heart was moved—he cared. His grief over the city and the Jewish people drove him to his knees. He pleaded with the great and terrible (awe-inspiring)…
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Step two: care
This report distressed and concerned Nehemiah on various levels. A city without walls was open to attack. This put the inhabitants in a constant state of vulnerability. But this wasn’t just any city—this was Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen to make His name known! The disrepair sent…

