How to Fix a Broken Life

July 3, 2025
Santa Clara Church Blog

“It’s bad… really bad. The fences and gates are broken… anyone can come and go as they please… our house is in shambles.”

Imagine getting that call about your home—where your family lives—while you’re away on an important trip. Would you just brush it off?

Of course not.

You’d risk everything to fix what’s broken and protect what matters.

But what if it wasn’t your house that was broken… it was your church family? Would you care just as much? Would you act just as urgently? What lengths would you go to for your church family?

The Bible presents us with someone who faced a similar crisis—Nehemiah. His story challenges us to examine things that may be broken in our own lives: physical, relational, spiritual—even eternal. And most importantly, it gives solid examples of how to go about fixing those things.

A Broken City, A Burdened Heart (Nehemiah 1:1–4)

To get some context, Nehemiah lived in Susa, the capital of Persia, far from Jerusalem (roughly 850 miles!). He was a cupbearer to the king—not a low-level position, but a close and trusted servant who wielded influence.

Ask the Right Questions

One day, he asked a question he likely feared the answer to: “How are the survivors in Jerusalem?” (Nehemiah 1:2, paraphrased)

The answer crushed him: “They are in great distress… the walls are broken down and the gates burned with fire.” (v.3)

Nehemiah’s willingness to ask the right questions, no matter how difficult, is a great lesson for us. We need to be willing to ask ourselves difficult questions about our lives as well:

How is my health?
Is my marriage struggling?
Am I loving my neighbor as myself?
Have I drifted from God?

Avoiding the truth only delays healing. If something is broken, it’s better to face it with God and His people than ignore it alone.

Seek the Ultimate Help (Nehemiah 1:5–11)

After hearing the answer, Nehemiah didn’t haphazardly jump into aimless action—he sought help from the highest source. He went to God in prayer.

In his prayer, he:

Acknowledged God’s greatness (v.5)
Asked God to listen (v.6)
Confessed the sins of the people—and his own (vv.6–7)
Cited God’s covenant faithfulness (vv.8–9)
Asked for compassion and success (v.11)

What do we do when something goes wrong in our lives?

Do we panic or pray?
Do we deny our faults or confess them?
Do we blame others or seek help?

Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do first is to weep, fast, and pray. God is not obligated to hear us—but in grace, mercy, and lovingkindness, He does.

Have the Courage to Act (Nehemiah 2:1–9)

Nehemiah’s next step was bold—and risky. He approached the king with visible sadness, something forbidden (Esther 4:2).

The king noticed his demeanor and asked what was wrong. After Nehemiah said another brief prayer, he asked to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.

The king granted the request—along with supplies, letters of safe passage, and military protection.

Why? “Because the good hand of my God was on me” (Nehemiah 2:8).

This brings us to a key question: When the time comes to act—will I have the faith and courage to move forward? God often opens doors when preparation meets prayer. We must be bold enough to step through.

Verify the Problem, Then Rally the Help (Nehemiah 2:11–18)

Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah spent three days quietly inspecting the walls. He didn’t immediately announce his plan. He verified the problem, then developed a strategy.

Then he rallied the leaders and citizens with these words: “You see the trouble we are in,… come, let us rebuild.” (v.17)

And they responded, “Let us arise and build.” (v.18)

It benefits us to recognize that there are problems too big to fix alone. Just like Nehemiah, we should:

Seek God’s help in prayer
Have the courage to ask help of those with more power than ourselves
Enlist the help of godly people

There is no shame in needing help… only in pretending we don’t.

Follow a God-Guided Plan (Nehemiah 2:12–20)

Nehemiah didn’t rely on instinct alone—he followed what “God had put in [his] heart to do” (v.12).

His plan wasn’t self-made. It was God-guided. That’s why he succeeded.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

The questions you and I need to ask ourselves are:

Are my plans aligned with God’s will?
Do they lead to obedience?
Do they honor Christ?
Are they rooted in Scripture?

Nehemiah’s success wasn’t magic—it was submission. If we want God’s blessing, we need to follow God’s blueprint.

Have Minds and Hands to Work (Nehemiah 3–6)

As the story unfolds, we see that the people responded to Nehemiah’s call. They worked shoulder to shoulder—even while armed for defense (Nehemiah 4:17).

Despite mockery, threats, and fatigue, they rebuilt the wall in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15)… something that no one else had accomplished in over 90 years.

Why? Because “the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6)

While God may not speak to us audibly, we can still do the things His Word tells us to do… if we will have a mind to work.

If you don’t know enough… start reading your Bible.
If you’re stuck in sin… start doing what’s right.
If someone else is struggling… don’t just criticize. Help them in love (Galatians 6:1–2).

But we must be willing to roll up our sleeves. God gives strength (Philippians 4:13)—but we must supply the effort.

Will You Fix What’s Broken?

Nehemiah shows us what godly restoration looks like:

He asked the hard questions
He verified the problems
He sought help
He made a God-honoring plan
He worked it through to completion

What about you?

What’s broken in your life, your family, your church… your soul?

Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing—renovating—of our minds. That word carries the idea of making something old useful again. And that’s exactly what God wants to do in you.

If you’ve never obeyed the gospel: