Nehemiah : WK 3 - THU
Patience
Nehemiah 2:11-12; 16
So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem.
The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.
One of the most challenging lessons is learning when to hold your tongue and when to speak. Perhaps you have a friend who can’t help but routinely stick their foot in their mouth, speaking first and thinking later. In high school, I realized that I had lost a friendship by saying things without thinking. It was a difficult experience to process. But I now see the wisdom in Nehemiah’s approach.
Make no mistake, he has strong feelings about the issues in Jerusalem. He is equipped with resources, permission, and nothing else on his agenda. Therefore, it is remarkable that Nehemiah has the discipline to slow down, pause, and gain the perspective that comes from listening before speaking.
The more critical the information we need to share, the more essential it is to first earn the right to do so. It is instructive that Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine for nearly 30 years before He began His public ministry. Habitually, He would spend time with people before offering instructions or criticism. Remember the woman at the well? Jesus intentionally crosses the borders of Israel into Samaria to speak with this woman. He has important things to say. Nevertheless, He takes the time to ask for a cup of water, a deeply controversial move, and allows the woman to engage in conversation at her own pace.
The next time we sense a friend is making poor choices and we have thoughts on how to improve the situation, perhaps we should pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on whether we have invested the necessary time and energy to earn the right to speak up.
As it turns out, love is patient.
Nehemiah 2:11-12; 16
So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem.
The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.
One of the most challenging lessons is learning when to hold your tongue and when to speak. Perhaps you have a friend who can’t help but routinely stick their foot in their mouth, speaking first and thinking later. In high school, I realized that I had lost a friendship by saying things without thinking. It was a difficult experience to process. But I now see the wisdom in Nehemiah’s approach.
Make no mistake, he has strong feelings about the issues in Jerusalem. He is equipped with resources, permission, and nothing else on his agenda. Therefore, it is remarkable that Nehemiah has the discipline to slow down, pause, and gain the perspective that comes from listening before speaking.
The more critical the information we need to share, the more essential it is to first earn the right to do so. It is instructive that Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine for nearly 30 years before He began His public ministry. Habitually, He would spend time with people before offering instructions or criticism. Remember the woman at the well? Jesus intentionally crosses the borders of Israel into Samaria to speak with this woman. He has important things to say. Nevertheless, He takes the time to ask for a cup of water, a deeply controversial move, and allows the woman to engage in conversation at her own pace.
The next time we sense a friend is making poor choices and we have thoughts on how to improve the situation, perhaps we should pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on whether we have invested the necessary time and energy to earn the right to speak up.
As it turns out, love is patient.
- On a scale from 1 to 10, how patient are you? What do you think the reason is?
- Who in your life do you consider to be extraordinarily patient? How do you experience their patience?
- Which friend or family member is on your mind right now? What prayer might you offer for them as you take a moment and practice patience before voicing your thoughts?
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