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Injuries within a company should never be accepted, but what if a company’s injury picture is just not improving? They have tried many different programs, but the injuries just continue. The injuries are reported to management but there is no cultural change. Then, one day, after the latest injury the director of safety is talking with the CEO’s Executive Assistant who enjoys bringing him coffee. In utter frustration and sadness the safety director says, “We just continue to have injuries. We have tried to tell people, but it just isn’t getting through!”

The situation is heart breaking but what will this Executive Assistant do?

• Option 1: Do nothing, the problem is bigger than me.
• Option 2: Do nothing, it’s not my responsibility, it’s not in my “zip code”, I need to stay in my lane
• Option 3: Trust that God’s got people on that and He is working His plan.
• Option 4: Pray and ask about ways to be personally involved

The Bible tells a story about a man named Nehemiah who was at work and faced with a very similar situation. There was heartbreak going on “in a different zip code.” How did he respond?

Educate

The story picks up in 445 BC in a town called Susa. The story of Nehemiah, like most stories of the Bible, is a workplace story. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. One day, his brother, Hanani, came to him and told him about his home town. He told him that his hometown was in ruins and the people were “in great trouble and disgrace.” The Bible says that when Nehemiah “heard these things, [he] sat down and wept. For some days [he] mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” 

Prior to Hanani telling Nehemiah what was happening back home, he was going through his business responsibilities as usual. However, now Nehemiah’s heart was moved. What would he do with this information? He had the same 4 options, but Nehemiah chose Option 4.

Inspire

The information Nehemiah received inspired him to action. He didn’t just start a committee, propose a new program, or threaten to riot. He simply started with prayer. He prayed, “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” The “this man” was King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah knew he had a rare opportunity, slim as it was, to walk into the presence of the king. But what could he do? He was a cupbearer. He didn’t hold a high position, he didn’t give the king counsel, he was barely even visible. When the king was brought wine, Nehemiah was just the one who actually brought it to him.

Nehemiah had nothing. Even the cup he held wasn't his own. 

He wouldn’t be able to initiate a conversation, but he knew that sometimes the king would talk with him. He wanted to be ready and prayer was that preparation. Nothing happened immediately. He fasted and prayed and he waited and trusted God. He knew that eventually God would open a door, an opportunity, and by faith he would step through it.

Mobilize

It took about four months from the time Hanani told him about the disgrace of his hometown until Nehemiah was mobilized to action and able to talk with the king. When the time was right, Nehemiah stepped out of the shadows and decided to become visible. He did something that would get the attention of the king but he also knew it could have gotten him killed. He trusted that God had his back as he stepped out in faith. What is this radical thing that Nehemiah did? He walked into the presence of Artaxerxes with a sad expression on his face.

The king saw Nehemiah’s face and asked him, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah 2:2

At this Nehemiah was terrified! The Bible says that he was “overwhelmed with fear! He had prayed for favor and he had trusted God for an open door, but now he was faced with a question that he knew could be his last. God gave him the exact words to speak.

“May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

To which Artaxerxes said, “What is it you want?”

Can you imagine? The king of the land asking you what is it you want? God had answered Nehemiah’s prayer by placing him right in front of the person that could give him what he needed. He just has to answer this one question correctly knowing he probably won’t get another bite at this apple. What does Nehemiah do next? PRAY. Yes! Right there in front of Artaxerxes and his queen. The Bible says, “Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…” You want to change the culture of your company? In the face of critical questions, pray first. Talk to God, then talk to people.

Nehemiah proceeds to ask the king to be sent home to rebuild his city walls. He asks him for letters granting safe passage and for resources to rebuild the walls. Then, in Nehemiah 2:8 there is this fantastic verse that says, “And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.” King Artaxerxes, a ruthless Persian King had just given his slave cupbearer a blank check, a complete answer to prayer. Nehemiah’s response was almost one of disbelief. He says, “The only way this happens is if God is in it.”

Nearly 2,500 years later…in Louisville, KY

Nehemiah’s heart was broken over the ruin and disgrace of his hometown. Even though Nehemiah was living in a different “zip code” he was mourning, fasting, and praying for God to restore His people. Nehemiah was asking God to grant him favor with the King. And that’s exactly what happened. God blessed Nehemiah greatly with the king’s favor.

Our hearts and eyes have been opened to our city. The more we are educated on the brokenness within our city, the more our hearts grow and our prayers pour out for our city. We cry out for all 73 zip codes.

We are encouraging people to pray for the shepherds of our community; for the hundreds of people that need God’s wisdom and peace. The walls of Jerusalem were restored in 52 days because Nehemiah’s heart was sad, and he was willing to share that sadness with King Artaxerxes (even though it terrified him). While Nehemiah gets most of the credit (and rightfully so) for his role in this story of rebuilding the walls, how critical was his brother Hanani’s role? If he doesn’t share the news with Nehemiah, God doesn’t grab Nehemiah’s heart and he never brings it before the king.

We all have a role to play. You may be Hanani, Nehemiah, or even Artaxerxes. You may be the one with the information, or the broken heart that mourns and prays, or the resources to make it happen. The importance of these three men and their involvement with a people who aren’t in their immediate “zip code” can’t be overstated.

Attend a BMI event to become educated on what is happening in our city and ways you can become engaged. Be inspired to connect with organizations impacting the community. Join in prayer for their mission, and watch divine connections be manifested. The focus of BMI is to connect business and ministries; educating, inspiring, and mobilizing the body of Christ in every zip code.

Additionally, join Pray Louisville today to start praying for one of the shepherds of our community. Ask God what He wants you to do. The people of our city need you.