It is to be expected that Nehemiah had no inkling when he reported for work that particular morning how the Lord would today answer his prayers of weeks past. But the Lord is mighty to do the unexpected, including making the king amenable to the preferences of Nehemiah’s heart. That in turn means for us that we ought to be ready for the Lord’s answers to our prayers at any time—including today, and in any manner—including the impossible (in our opinion). Certainly we ought never to lose heart so as to give up imploring God for his gracious blessings (Luke 18:1–8). That can include (as Nehemiah did) speedy, momentary prayers (Nehemiah 2:4).
Nehemiah’s prayers in Nehemiah 1:5–11 focused on the reconstruction of Jerusalem’s broken walls. In New Testament terms, Jerusalem is the church, where the people of God gather (Psalm 122:1–9). In today’s world, we would not be wrong to say that the walls of the church feel so porous as to be non-existent. We note so much worldliness entering the church (for example, a refusal to call sin what God calls sin) and so many members simply leaving the church. Instead, though, of accepting the status quo, we do well to grieve and pray as Nehemiah did and then expect God in unexpected fashion to answer our petitions, as he did for Nehemiah. Christ did not triumph and ascend in order to have his church be a laughingstock for the nations! Let us expect great things from the King of kings!
4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.