Prayer Is the First Step, Not the Last Resort

Everybody loves a quick fix for a problem. When something breaks or leaks or isn’t working how it should, our first instinct is to grab the tools, call on Google, or find an expert. Our problem-solving reflex isn’t all bad. God gave us minds, skills, and resources for a reason. But Nehemiah’s story reminds us, when we’re facing a real challenge in life the best first step isn’t action. It’s prayer.

When Nehemiah learned that the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins, he didn’t sprint into action. He didn’t seek an audience with the king, form a committee, or draft a building plan. Instead, he sat down. He wept. He fasted. And he prayed (Nehemiah 1:4).

The order matters. 

Prayer wasn’t Nehemiah’s last resort when everything else failed. Prayer was his first move. 

Why We Tend to Flip the Order

If we’re honest, many of us treat prayer as the thing you do when you’ve exhausted every other option. We say things like, “Well, all we can do now is pray.” That phrase may sound spiritual, but it’s a subtle confession that we trust our strategies more than we trust God. Prayer becomes the backup plan instead of the battle plan.

Why? 

Because, if we’re honest, a lot of times prayer feels unproductive. It doesn’t scratch the itch to do something right now. But Nehemiah’s example reminds us: when we pray first, we’re not wasting time—we’re anchoring ourselves to the only One who can actually move hearts, change circumstances, and restore what’s broken.

How Nehemiah Prayed

Notice how Nehemiah begins his prayer: “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love…” (Neh. 1:5).

Before he ever makes a request, he centers his heart on who God is. Adoration comes before petition. That shift in focus changes everything. It lifts our eyes above the rubble and reorients us around God’s greatness.

Nehemiah also prays with confession. He doesn’t distance himself from Israel’s failures; he owns them: “Even I and my father’s house have sinned” (1:6). Then he leans into God’s promises, quoting directly from the words of Moses. In other words, his prayer is Scripture-shaped, honest, and God-centered.

Bringing It Home

What would it look like if we began treating prayer as the first step in our biggest challenges? What would it mean for

• Your family
• Your work
• Your relationships
• Your finances
• Your church

Nehemiah reminds us that prayer isn’t what we turn to when we don’t know what else to do. It’s how we figure everything else out. 

A Challenge

Think about one big decision or burden you’re carrying right now. Before you make a move, commit to one week of praying about it daily. Center your prayer on who God is, confess where you’ve fallen short, and anchor your words in His promises.

rayLet prayer be your first step, not your last resort.