Before Nehemiah comes into the picture, the people were in great distress and reproach. The walls lay in ruins and the people were discouraged. It seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. The people had lost hope, and they could not see how their situation would change in any way.

The bible says that where there is no vision, the people perish, and that’s what was happening to this people until Nehemiah showed up. What did he bring besides a vision and hope?

When we have no clear direction of where we are going, that’s a ripe environment for discouragement to set in. Vision demands discipline and courage to pursue and attain. Where there is no vision, no courage is needed and thus discouragement sets in.

The moment Nehemiah gave the people a vision and hope, the same people who were distressed transformed into a people who had a heart to work and they built the wall in record time. Nehemiah also came with resources and favor from the king, but he was only able to get that because he had a vision and a plan in the first place.

Just as a football match with no goal posts to score would soon become boring, without meaning and a source of discouragement, so is your life without a vision and a goal.