Witness, Cupbearer to the king

Nehemiah Prayer 1: 6

“Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.”

In this single chapter one, I sat back after reading it and thought.

Wow, I read Ezekiel through chapter twenty and that my gosh—nearly destroyed me!

I had to realign.

I had to settle.

Panic attack after panic attack.

I am still struggling a little with anxiety but eh, that’s what happens when you’re me.

I unfortunately can’t help but read too deep into things.

It’s always been me and who I am.

I honestly think It’s why the people who surround me do.

They say the words just come effortlessly and make them confront themselves but also feel safe.

Do you get that, too?

I know I’m not the only one in all this.

But it’s okay for now.

I’ll find my community.

But as for this passage.

I did it again.

Read too deep into it and there it was.

“I was cupbearer to the king.” –Nehemiah 1

I blinked and shook my head as my brows furrowed. “What?” I read it again and sat back thinking, should I keep reading?

No. I needed to rest.

Ezekiel took a lot out of me and I needed to sit with this.

Then it came later.

I read a little ahead and found that the king noticed the sadness upon his face.

“I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the kind asked me, “Why does you face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of the heart.”

I was very much afraid, but I said to the kind, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. –Nehemiah 2:1-6

What happened here made my hair stand on end.

Sent shivers throughout my body and made me smile.

God placed him there.

He did not mention this for no reason.

That detail alone was the perfection and my joy set in after this.

It shows and proves time and time again that God has you exactly where you need to be.

Though you might be working at McDonalds now.

A cash register.

Overnight stocking.

Behind a desk.

Registration over the phone for insurance.

This is where you need to be for the next thing to happen

Because building up doesn’t come suddenly.

It comes with strategy.

That line alone teaches what most people overlook.

It teaches that secular roles can be sacred assignments, too.

And this one set the stage for one of the greatest rebuilding stories.

Because Nehemiah hears that the walls are broken down.

But in my way, it does not refer to architecture – but to visibility, exposure, and spiritual fatigue.

God is showing us the breach so He can show us the blueprint.

And let me state this clearly.

Nehemiah wasn’t a prophet, a priest, or a builder—He was simply a cupbearer.

A role no one would even think about twice, but once God breathes life into it means everything.

And what I hear from this chapter now that I allowed myself to read ahead is this:

“You’re not imagining it. I am calling you higher.”

The first move is weeping, praying, confessing, and listening, not acting for hustle or from anxiety.

That’s what Nehemiah did in the beginning of the book—in chapter one.

Then in chapter two it all came together.

Yes, truly.

This is where it starts.

You’re already in the room where the next miracle will be authorized and sent.

Do not be afraid.

This is a mirror and a summons.

Your place is where you need to be for the next door to open.

The next opportunity.

God sees you, hears you and knows you.

Now understand and know Him.

He will never abandon you.

Never not hear your cries.