The book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament is a memoir. It tells the story of the cup bearer to the King of Babylon, who was also a Jew. The memoir starts when Nehemiah gets feedback about the trouble that people are experiencing back home in Jerusalem. Crime, uncertainty and spiritual decline paint a picture of a difficult life.It is not unlike our experience of life today. The impact of COVID and uncertainty around work and travel has troubled many people. On top of this, we also live in an age of spiritual decline. Most of the world lives as though God doesn’t exist or doesn’t have anything relevant to say for their lives.Nehemiah was moved by the report he received. The trouble in the world troubled his heart. His response was one of tenderness before God which turned into a prayer. A heart for the nation leads to a prayer for the nation. In this case, Nehemiah became the answer to his own prayer as he returned to the city of Jerusalem to rebuild it.