The Daily: Monday January 12, 2026

Now it happened that the common folk, both women and men, raised a hue and cry against their Jewish sisters and brothers. Nehemiah 5:1

Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation 

Have you ever been so focused on a project that you missed the cries for help around you? Nehemiah was leading one of the most important construction projects in Israel's history - rebuilding Jerusalem's protective wall. The work was going well, morale was high, and everyone could see the progress. But then something happened that changed everything. Amidst the sounds of construction, Nehemiah heard something else: the outcry of families in crisis. People were mortgaging their homes, selling their land, and even putting their children into servitude just to survive. The very people he was trying to protect were suffering in silence while he built walls to keep enemies out.

This moment reveals something profound about leadership and community life. Sometimes the most important work isn't the visible project everyone can see, but responding to the invisible suffering that's easy to miss. Nehemiah could have kept building - after all, the wall was important for everyone's security. But he understood that external protection means nothing if the community is broken from within. What made Nehemiah different was his willingness to stop and truly listen. In our busy lives, we can become so focused on our goals, our projects, and our plans that we miss the outcries around us. Maybe it's a neighbor struggling financially, a coworker dealing with family crisis, or someone in our church community feeling isolated and forgotten. Listening requires us to pause our agenda and create space for others' pain. It means being present enough to hear not just words, but the heart behind them. When we truly listen, we position ourselves to be part of God's solution rather than unknowingly contributing to the problem.

Reflection
What 'outcries' in your community or relationships might you be missing because you're too focused on your own projects and goals?

Prayer
God, help me to slow down and truly listen to those around me. Open my ears to hear the cries for help that I might be missing in my busyness. Give me the courage to pause my own agenda when someone needs to be heard. Amen.