I was checking out at Carrs on December 23, 2017, when my sister called. In different times, I would not have remembered this detail, but my relationship with my sister was in ruins.  

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The destruction started after a time of excitement and anticipation. In the fall of 2016, my sister and I moved our mom to be near my sister. As we went through childhood mementos and shared memories, we had so many laughs! We were excited to gather our families for Christmas with Mom! Neither of us ever thought that this celebration of Jesus’ birth would be the beginning of brokenness and ruins.  

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I learned that my sister had stepped away from her faith, church, and support system. Things happened and words were said that hurt, but they were ignored and tension grew. We both had separate issues in our lives that were festering but not shared due to the ruins. During the summer of 2017, the ruins grew to a point where we no longer communicated. Later that fall, I felt God calling me to write a letter to my sister, which was comfortable for me because I could carefully choose my words, and she could reread it for clarification. The letter would leave me vulnerable and unprotected from more ruins, but I mailed it and prayed.

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When I read today’s verse, the word “ruins” hit me hard – I can relate to Nehemiah’s heartbreak and sorrow! His story of ruins begins with the idolatry and rebellion of the Jews when God let the Babylonian Empire exert its rule over Judah in 605 BC by first demanding a payment of tribute. In the following years, many Jews were taken captive to Babylon, and the treasures of Jerusalem were stolen. In 597 BC, Jerusalem was besieged with only the poorest people being left in the city, until 586 BC when the Temple and the city were destroyed by fire (II Kings 25:9-12). After 70 years in exile, the Jewish people would return to Judah, as prophesied (Jer. 25:11-12), when King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon in 536 BC and issued a decree to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. The rebuilding of the Temple was completed in 516 BC, 70 years after it was destroyed, but parts of the city remained in ruins.  

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Nehemiah enters this story around 445 BC as a Jew still living in Persia, serving King Artaxerxes I. One day, Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, came from Judah to share the current state of Jerusalem as still in ruins due to the walls and gates lying in ash. Nehemiah was distraught, so he fasted and prayed. Soon afterwards, the King noticed that Nehemiah was very sad, so he explained to the King that the city of his ancestors remained in ruins. When the King asked him what he wanted, he again prayed and then asked if he could be allowed to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls that his people needed for protection. The King granted this and allowed them to gather wood along the 900-mile route to Jerusalem. When he arrived, he inspected the ruins and perceived the great destruction. Then, he gathered the people to proclaim God’s provision by sending help and wood to rebuild the ruins. He rallied and energized the people to rebuild the walls and gate in an amazingly short time of 52 days. God used Nehemiah to restore protection and the hearts of His people out of ruins!

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When my phone rang in Carrs, weeks after I mailed my letter, my heart was pounding in anticipation! I went home to call her back so I could pray on the drive and be fully present on the phone. We talked and cried for over two and a half hours! The ruins were being sifted, restoration was beginning, and I was rejoicing that it had not taken 70 years! Today our hearts are restored, and our relationship is deeper and stronger than ever! God used my snail mailed letter to restore sisters, His people!

Are there moments in your life that remind you of ruins that need to be rebuilt? God wants to help you rebuild them like he helped Nehemiah and is still helping me! Imagine how God can work miracles to rebuild your ruins. You may not know the private stories of the others buried in those ruins, but God does. Let’s give the ruins to God for His glory to rebuild the hearts and relationships of His people. Your story of restoration could be a testament of God’s power and faithfulness leading to the life God wants for you in 2026.  

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Abba, reveal to us the paths You will provide to rebuild the ruins in our lives! We love You!