By Barbara M. Britton

Many Christians know the story of Nehemiah. He was the man who rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. He even has his own book of the Bible. If we focus on Nehemiah’s construction skills, we miss one of his greatest attributes. Nehemiah was a man of prayer.

If prayer is talking with God, then Nehemiah had a lot to talk about.

When the book of Nehemiah begins, Nehemiah is cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa, far from Nehemiah’s ancestral home of Jerusalem. Fortunately, Nehemiah receives visitors, a brother and some friends, but they relay shocking news about the state of Jerusalem. The City of David is in ruins.

What does Nehemiah do after hearing the troubling news about Jerusalem? Nehemiah 1:4 tells us that Nehemiah fasted and prayed. The only man who could relieve Nehemiah of his duties, send him to Jerusalem, and give him supplies was the king. A king who had abandoned Jerusalem previously.

Against all odds, Nehemiah doesn’t give up. After being called out by the king for looking sad, an offense punishable by death, Nehemiah relays the reason for his distress—Jerusalem is in ruins.

The faithfulness of God is on full display when the king asks Nehemiah, “What is it you want?” (2:4)

Does Nehemiah blurt out his desires? Of course not; he prays to God. Not only does Nehemiah ask to be relieved of his duties so that he can travel to his home city, he asks for letters for safe travel and timber from the king’s forest. The king also sends army officers and calvary with Nehemiah (2:9).

The rest of Nehemiah’s journey should be easy. God is on his side. Mortaring a few rocks shouldn’t be difficult after receiving the king’s blessing. Unfortunately, Nehemiah’s problems are only beginning. He will be communicating with God often.

How do I know? I wrote “Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey” to show Nehemiah’s steadfast faith when friend and foe alike try to harm him and his building project. Many Christians do not know that the daughters of Shallum helped in the wall building.

You can find them mentioned in Nehemiah 3:12. We do not know how many daughters Shallum had, so I gave him two—Adah and Judith.

Spoiler Alert!

With God’s help, Nehemiah restores the wall around Jerusalem, rebuilds the gates, and welcomes the Hebrew remnant back to Jerusalem. What seems like a lot of construction talk begins with a man on his knees praying to God.

What projects or happenings in your life need to be bathed in prayer? I know how busy life can be, and sometimes I fail to pray before my feet are racing to tackle the day. May Nehemiah remind us that talking to God can bless our plans and make them better than we ever imagined.

One of my favorite verses is found in Nehemiah 8:10b. Nehemiah says these words after his hardships are past—for a while. May we remember his encouraging words. “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.
Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall, and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father, who rules a half-district of Jerusalem, be forgotten forever?
Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise?

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Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. She also authored a WWI Historical set in Alaska. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barb and her books on her website www.barbarambritton.com.

You can also connect with Barbara on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or, follow her on BookBub.

You can purchase “Jerusalem Rising” on Amazon, B&N or other retailers. Your library can order it too.