A Humble Confession

Grief is probably something you’re familiar with: a death of a loved one, a critical health diagnosis, an injustice in your neighborhood, a trauma experienced by yourself or someone you know, or even a dire situation for a community you have yet to meet. Whether the grief is deeply personal or your heart breaks for people in a country you have never visited, what could it look like to respond?

For Nehemiah, he finds out about a devastation to the security of Jerusalem that impacts his hometown community. As we journey with Nehemiah through this first chapter, we see how he responds to grief. Notice how mourning, prayer, and fasting were the first part of his grieving process. Nehemiah deeply desires to connect with God and clearly understand His perspective.

As you explore Nehemiah 1:5-10, see how Nehemiah’s prayer regarding this heartbreaking situation turns to a time of confession. Confession isn’t something we immediately consider when faced with grief. However, Nehemiah saw it as a way to connect with God over what broke his heart. Nehemiah reminded God of His faithfulness and promises in the past and wanted his community to be in right-standing with Him, so he confessed on behalf of them.

If you dive deeper into the theme of confession you’ll see in 1 Chronicles 7:11-15 that confession on behalf of an entire community was common. This probably started with the fathers of the faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even Moses. As we look at confession in light of Christ’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection, we are in right-standing with God as we believe in Jesus as God’s Son and His death as paying our sin debt in full. Christ has also become the ultimate Intercessor for our lives (see Romans 8:34).

However, this doesn’t mean confession isn’t important. Confession is more of an unburdening before God (see 1 John 1:5-10) than it is of paying a penalty.

In your conversations with God, consider these questions and practical ideas as you pray like Nehemiah:

• In whatever difficult time you’re currently enduring, what could it look like to set aside space to grieve with God over how your heart is breaking? Could fasting even be incorporated as a way to focus your heart on God’s perspective?

• As you hold your difficult circumstance or the one that is pulling at your heartstrings, engage with God over a time of confession. Allow it to be a way of unburdening yourself and those you’re praying for before Him. Remember that Christ is at the right hand of God also interceding for you.

• Use Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-10 and note or highlight those sections that the Holy Spirit draws your attention to. Pray like Nehemiah about what’s breaking your own heart.