Every year on October 2nd, my team and I pause to remember the story of Nehemiah. It’s not just an ancient account of walls and ruins; it’s a timeless lesson in what real leadership looks like.
Nehemiah was living comfortably as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Persia. By every measure, he had a good life. Yet when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins and its people were suffering, he couldn’t ignore it. He was heartbroken. Disturbed. But what sets Nehemiah apart is this: he didn’t stop at feeling bad. He decided to act.
How often do we see something broken in our world, our community, or even our organization and say, “That’s terrible,” before moving on with our day? Nehemiah shows us that true leadership doesn’t end with acknowledging the problem. It begins with stepping into the solution.
He prayed. He fasted. And then he did something bold: he asked God to make him the one to do something about it. When the opportunity came, he shared his vision with the king, not timidly but directly. He asked for resources, for permission, for support. And the king not only agreed — he gave Nehemiah everything he needed to succeed. Why? Because vision backed by conviction is contagious.
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he didn’t start with speeches or grandstanding. He quietly walked the ruins, studying the problem. He prepared. He planned. And then he rallied the people with a clear mission: rebuilding the walls was not just about stone and mortar. It was about restoring safety, dignity, and hope.
And as always happens when you step into meaningful work, opposition showed up. Critics mocked him, tried to distract him, even threatened him. But Nehemiah’s response was simple and powerful: “I’m doing important work, and I’m not coming down.”
That is leadership. The ability to stay focused when critics jeer. To persist when resistance mounts. To keep moving when others would quit.
In just 52 days against all odds walls that had been in ruins for generations were rebuilt. Not because Nehemiah had the easiest path, but because he had the clearest purpose.
The lesson is as urgent today as it was in 445 BC: leaders change the world when they act with purpose, persistence, and unwavering faith. We don’t need more people to point out problems — we need leaders willing to step up, rally others, and build.
That’s the kind of leadership our communities, businesses, and world need right now. The kind that refuses to come down.
Always Forward.
