Now I was cupbearer to the king. NEHEMIAH 1:11 ESV
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” NEHEMIAH 2:1-8 ESV
FOUR THINGS I CAN ALWAYS DO TO CREATE CHANGE:
DON’T WASTE MY WAITING
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. PROVERBS 21:5 NIV
Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. PROVERBS 22:29 ESV
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. PROVERBS 16:1 ESV
4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. NEHEMIAH 2:4 ESV
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. PROVERBS 21:1 ESV
PAUSE TO BE REAL WITH OURSELVES, GOD, AND OTHERS
Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. PROVERBS 13:16 NLT
…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. JAMES 1:19 NIV
5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah… NEHEMIAH 2:5 ESV
CHOOSE TO GO FIRST
8 And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. NEHEMIAH 2:8 ESV
LAY MY LIFE DOWN
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 JOHN 3:16 NIV
My Notes
Discussion Questions
Use the following questions to reflect on the sermon. Choose a couple from each section to discuss as a group:
- START HERE: What's something you'd love to see change in your life, family, community, or the world, but often feel powerless to do anything about?
- START HERE: Looking back, can you think of a season of waiting when God seemed to be preparing you? What was He teaching or developing in you?
- KEEP GOING: Read Nehemiah 1:11-2:8 ESV. What stands out about the way Nehemiah handled this moment with the king? Why was he able to be so honest and courageous?
- KEEP GOING: Nehemiah spent months praying and preparing before God gave him an opportunity to speak. Have you ever wasted time while waiting? What would it look like to use your waiting differently or more wisely?
- KEEP GOING: When you're facing an important conversation or decision, what shapes your first response—prayer, preparation, pressure, fear, or something else? How could you remember to pause and pray more often?
- KEEP GOING: When God puts something on your heart, what keeps you passive rather than prepared? What practices or habits could you develop now so you're ready to act when opportunity comes?
- LIVE IT OUT: Where in your life do you need to go first instead of waiting for someone else to act? What do you need to entrust to God so you can do that?
- LIVE IT OUT: Read 1 John 3:16 NIV. Identify one specific way you can lay down your time, comfort, or resources for someone else this week. How will you make that happen?
