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Nehemiah 2:3 "I said to the king, ... 'Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?'"

 

It is sometimes difficult to remain joyful in the face of the wickedness that has spread throughout much of society, and has even infected parts of the Church. But "We are an Easter people!", aren't we?! Yes, we know that the Church will never be destroyed; we know the gates of hell will not prevail against her; we know God will guide and protect our "city" through the storms of history. But we also know that sin is real and that, as in Jerusalem, when sin becomes too prevalent within our city's walls, it will need to be cleansed. When we see sin and its effects infecting beloved and necessary institutions, even the Church, we feel sadness, it is only natural. Nehemiah has a sad face, he is mourning, even as he goes about his duties. He would have been lying to himself if he tried to put on a false face of happiness as he served the king.

 

Nehemiah's mourning is not the kind of mourning that eases with time, but rather the kind that eases with correction. In his case, the city and people had suffered long enough, God had determined it was time to start rebuilding. In that rebuilding, Nehemiah will find happiness again. And it is because of his sad face that the king sends him back to begin that process.

 

When we feel sadness looking at the state of things, especially in the Church, we should not try to counter it with false happiness. There is always reason for hope, and for joy, but there is also sometimes need for correction, and that can make us rightfully sad. When we feel that, we should pray on it, and let God lead us to what He wants us to do about it. Nehemiah's sad face led the king to find out what was bothering him, and that led him to being sent back to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding. It may be that our sadness leads us to a similar mission that God is asking of us. If we act falsely happy, though, we may never be tasked with that mission.