Rebuilding.

WEEK FIVE

Welcome to your final week of #theFives! You have walked through how to find peace within yourself, with God and others, but what happens when a lack of peace has lasting damage in our relationships? Reconciliation can happen in a moment, but restoration takes time. This week we ask the question, “Where do we go from here?” Read on to discover how we continue making peace by creating a safe place to rebuild together.

DAY TWENTY-ONE

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.”

Nehemiah 2:17-18

Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer. His story begins with him grieving the destruction of Jerusalem. He is passionate about rebuilding the walls around the city, but he needs the favor of the king to do so. Thankfully he gets permission and by chapter 2 is rallying the remaining Jews to join the task to rebuild!

Nehemiah understood the hard process of rebuilding the wall and the value of rallying a community to accomplish the task. The Jewish people came together to rebuild the walls. Some brought tools, some brought weapons to protect themselves during the rebuilding process, and some brought both!

When we realize we have disrupted the peace of someone else, we must understand there are different tools needed to restore what was broken. Sometimes rebuilding takes tangible gifts to mend a hurt. Other times all that is required is a heart-felt conversation. Even other times we need a community of friends to walk out accountability with us and point toward intentional relationship restoration. Just like rebuilding the wall, God places the exact people in our lives that are meant for our mutual protection, support, and love.

Reconciliation can happen in a moment, but restoration takes time. This week, we are going to focus on “where do we go from here?” Now that we know what it looks like to be reconciled to God and others, how do we continue the process of walking in peace creating a safe place to rebuild together?

LET’S PRAY

1.) Read Nehemiah Ch 2. What are some of the emotions Nehemiah is facing before the rebuild process begins? What emotions do you feel about rebuilding your life around the peace of God? 

2.) Tell God what you are most excited about and most fearful of in the rebuilding process.

3.) Ask God for your next step. Think about someone you you want restored in your life. Write down what God says to do and commit to it!

Peace with others.

WEEK FOUR

DAY TWENTY

“We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near;

    people tell of your wonderful deeds.”

Psalm 75:1

Way to go! This week you allowed God to examine your heart. You asked what part you have played in each of your relationships. You have walked through repentance, forgiveness and even lamenting. Next week you get to focus on the rebuilding process. Woohoo! This heart work matters, and God is training you to not only walk closer with Him, but also others. 

Let’s take time today to celebrate God’s goodness! Praise Him through prayer and worship. Allow Him to restore you in order to start fresh next week with restoring your relationships. You were created to walk with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15), reflecting His glory, and enjoying the benefits of being adopted into one body!

LET’S PRAY

1.) Thank God for all that He has done this week! Journal the victories you experienced.

2.) Write a prayer of blessing for someone you have been praying for this week. Even if it is someone you struggle to love, ask God for the words.

3.) Ask God for complete restoration after a tough few days of prayer. Spend time in the quiet, not reading, or listening to music. See what God says! 

Peace with others.

WEEK FOUR

DAY NINETEEN

“Hear my prayer, Lord;

let my cry for help come to you.

Do not hide your face from me

when I am in distress.

Turn your ear to me;

when I call, answer me quickly.”

Psalms 102:1-2

The Psalms are a great place to find poetic prayers that cry out to God. Many are full of praise and thanksgiving, but about forty Psalms are dedicated to lamenting, which is defined as “passionate grieving or sorrow.” Lamenting acknowledges injustice, grief, pain, and even our own sin. In order to find joy and build peace in our relationship with God and others, we have to grieve what was, or what we thought should have been. Letting this go in our hearts opens us up to hear from God about what is next.

When we looked at our relationships this week, was your heart grieved for your failed relationships? Did you feel isolated or lonely? Today is the day to release our unresolved feelings to the Lord. He understands there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4.) Grieve today, move forward tomorrow.

LET’S PRAY

1.) Read Psalm 102.

2.) Tell God where you feel you have failed in relationships, or areas where others have failed you. Allow Him to HEAL those wounds and speak truth over you.

3.) Pray for personal peace. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Peace with others

WEEK FOUR

DAY EIGHTEEN

“But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept.”

Genesis 33:4

If there was ever a man that had a reason to be angry at his brother, it was Esau. Even from birth, it felt like his twin brother Jacob was out to get him as he came out “grasping Esau’s heel with his hand.” Jacob manipulated his brother out of his birthright and their father’s blessing. Their mother wisely sent Jacob away to live with an uncle, and Jacob built a new life.

Enter the voice of God. God told Jacob he must return to his home, but that meant passing through the land of Seir where his brother Esau had settled. Knowing Esau was not going to greet him in a nice manner, Jacob wrestled all night with the Lord demanding a blessing before this reunion. Then, in chapter 33, the suspense comes to a climax when the two brothers reunite, but instead of killing Jacob, Esau embraced him with forgiveness. Jacob tried to give his brother his livestock to atone for his sins, but Esau refused.

That’s the thing– once you have chosen to forgive, you cancel the debt of the one that has hurt you. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did was ok, it just means the bitterness you felt from it no longer holds a place in your heart. Esau could have spent his days seeking revenge on his brother, but instead he had built his own life. He was content.

Have you allowed the sting of past offenses to rob you of your peace toward others? Is your forgiveness dependent on what someone offers you? Let’s look at what it looks like to truly forgive today.

LET’S PRAY

1.) Ask God to reveal any unforgiveness you have stored up. Don’t discount even the smallest offense! (Think “You cut me off on the way to work” small.)

2.) Pray to release that person or people from the debt you have against them, just like Esau did toward Jacob.

3.) “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32. Thank God for the forgiveness of Jesus that not only promises you eternal life, but also gives you the strength to forgive others and live in peace!