August 29

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. — Neh 1:4 BSB

Tears alone are not enough. Nehemiah not only wept for his people, but he also brought the burden to God in prayer before taking any action himself. Compassion is Christlike, but it must be accompanied by prayer and action. When we bring the needs of others to God, we can trust that He cares more deeply than we do, and He knows best how to help. Our prayers are essential, but they must be followed by a willingness to act.

Nehemiah didn’t stop at weeping and praying—he left his comfortable position and went to Jerusalem to work. In the same way, our compassion must move us to action. Sympathy, prayer, and work form a powerful combination that can bring about real change. While we must pray, we must also be willing to

do whatever God calls us to do to help those in need.