Nehemiah 12:27-47
by Susanne Moore
I love when spring begins to shoot up through the dry cracked spaces of earth. A small tuft of green bringing color to a drab, dark land. That is how it is with new things in our lives. They break through the cracks of our armor, the protective layer we have placed around our hearts and souls to guard us from the realities of this sometimes it seems God forsaken earth. But it isn’t, is it? The rain comes. The water nourishes our souls.
When we find ourselves in a state of rebuilding, after the walls have come down, the pain has lessened, the shame is gone, and the new truths have penetrated our limbs we begin moving slowly forward. It is time to make sure we are erecting a new life that is dedicated to a new way.
You know the definition of insanity in the recovery world is doing the same thing over and over and over and expecting a different result. Does not work. That is the story of Israel. That is the story of Gentiles. That is the story of humanity period. That is my story, until it isn’t.
I realized after stepping out of yet another abusive relationship that I had just jumped back into the circle. That never-ending ride on the hamster wheel. Why? How can I stop that insanity? What can I do to rebuild my life with a firm foundation of truth and a breaking of chains from youth?
I am now 55 years young. I have two grown daughters, three grandchildren, two sons-in-law, three grand dogs, two grand cats and now three great nieces and two more greats coming. I refuse to go backwards and thus began my study of Nehemiah. I have been deep diving through its pages since honestly before the relationship even happened. Isn’t that foreshadowing?
I wrote these words, “Yes rescue me Lord from my comfortable, complacent, self-righteous, judgmental humanistic, selfish, sinful existence. Rescue me by sifting out the underlying motives, little white sins and desperate grasps for love, for only your love can be perfect and true. You are the answer, the beginning and the end. I seek to empower folks to love deeper, forgive sooner, understand differently, live wide open and vulnerable. Let go of pretenses and what you think you know about someone and walk into the room, light it up with God’s glorious light, speak His word into others, ask them about their spiritual condition, their hidden sadness and broken places for they must be exposed to truth so it can begin the refining process in our soul.”
Whoa! That is surreal. That was 2015. I actually asked God to sift the junk out of my life. Can I speculate that all that happened since, was part of the sifting? It is hard to think that experiences that happen are part of the plan. When I look back and see how I walked through the darkness into His glorious light to break new ground, and break old cycles, and find new freedom how can I possibly deny it? How can I forget Nehemiah 4:20 “Our GOD will fight for us!”
He did fight for me and praise God, he saved me from a horrible space. Now I stand in new grace. Surrounded by new faces, new spaces, new traces of his love. I have a freedom that is not tied to the past. I am not a victim; I am a SURVIVOR. I am not abused; I have been abused. I am not broken; I am healed. I am not my scars; I built character. I am not lost; I am found. I am not ugly; I am beautiful. I am not lonely; I am never alone.
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” Steve Maraboli.
Let us dedicate all of the new to God who brought us through. To God who took our hand and led us out. To God who made a covenant with us FOREVER and will never let us go.
The people celebrated. Nehemiah 12:27 it states something like this: At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (the now completed Wall of Jerusalem)…they celebrated joyfully. They dedicated songs of thanksgiving with music, cymbals, harps and lyres. The leaders when up on top of the completed wall with choirs singing praises.
Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing, glory and majesty praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your love. I sing for joy at the work of your hands. Forever ill love you forever ill stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.
Shout it from the mountaintops. God has changed me, healed me, rescued me, provided for me, taught me, loved me and I dedicate my life to you.
Susanne Moore 