The Heart of the Builder

Scripture

“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.  But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’” Nehemiah 1:8-9

Observation 

“But, if you obey, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen…” It is amazing that God always provides a way for us to return to Him. He is constantly beckoning us, pursuing, and running after us. To know this truth – that the God of the universe chases us and never gives up on us – makes me want to jump for joy and cry my eyes out at the same time. 
I came to know Christ at the age of 20 years young. I had two small children and one on the way. Three kids at 21 is not for the weak. I remember walking into church with no real intention of coming back. My motive was to silence the nagging of my aunt. It was Easter Sunday, and I thought, “ok, this is perfect… I’ll be in and out. No one will notice me, and I’ll be good; at least, until next Easter.”  
BUT, GOD. He had other plans. He noticed me, and absolutely had His own agenda. Tears started flowing the moment I entered the sanctuary, and wouldn’t stop. The whole message was for me – like a personal love letter from God, to me – a father to his daughter. And boy, how I desperately needed a dad. From that moment on, His House became my house. For 20 years, I served Him as faithfully as I could.  I was eager to know Him, and to be in His presence. 
I would not have believed you if you told me that I’d somehow lose my way. I tried so hard to be an A+ Christian, crossing all my T’s; enduring all the unimaginable – even the loss of my first-born child. I thought nothing could make me waver. But, one day, I quit. I quit on God, I quit on the call. I found myself back in the world, forsaking and abandoning Christ – my first love. For two years, I was completely lost. It was ugly. 
BUT, GOD. He promises that He will never leave, or forsake us. I experienced this truth, firsthand. He never abandoned me. He drew me back to Him, replacing beauty for ashes; from the ruins, He began pouring out a love I didn’t think I could ever experience – HIS redeeming love. He restored me by His grace, right back to the grace I had fallen from. 
There was so much rubble – made up of brokenness, shattered dreams, failures, and disappointments. Slowly, He began to rebuild my life. “Daughter, return to me. Prodigal, come home.” I had to answer. That was my part of the rebuilding. It has not been easy, but there is power in returning to the ruins. Piece by piece, He is cleaning up the mess and, together, we are rebuilding.

Application

I encourage you to get alone with God, and ask Him to show you the areas of your life needing rebuilding. What have you not entrusted God to restore? Your broken heart, maybe; or the time you will never get back? Maybe it is that relationship that seems impossible to restore; or the betrayal that seems unforgivable. This life is full of fiery darts – they try to take us out; to discount us, or disqualify us from the race. BUT, GOD. He always provides a way back to Him. 
Although He restores, we must be willing to work alongside Him to rebuild. It takes sacrifice. It involves taking responsibility and accountability for the wrong we have done. Ask the Lord to show us the areas of our lives that need rebuilding. The foundation has already been laid for us. He is our foundation; our rock; our cornerstone. And even before He laid that foundation, He chose you.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for choosing us – even before you laid the foundation of the world. Thank you for never abandoning us. We know it won’t be easy to return to the ruins, but we trust you to remove what no longer serves you, and rebuild what you deem purposeful. We believe in your plans for us, Oh God. Please help us to submit and surrender to Your will for our lives. Strengthen us to endure the process of the rebuilding and remind us that it is all for Your glory. In Jesus Name – Amen.