God Can Rebuild What Feels Broken
No matter what has been damaged in your life, Jesus Christ can help you begin again.
Have you ever looked at something in your life and wondered if it could ever be the same again?
Maybe it's a friendship that fell apart. A testimony that doesn't feel as strong as it once did. A mistake you wish you could take back.
Maybe it's your confidence, your relationship with your family, or simply your desire to feel close to God again.
When something feels broken, it's easy to believe it will always stay that way.
The Israelites could have felt the same.
God Specializes in New Beginnings
When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, they didn't find the beautiful city they remembered. The temple had been destroyed. The city was in ruins. Everywhere they looked were reminders of what had been lost.
But instead of giving up, they started rebuilding.
One of the first things they rebuilt wasn't the temple itself—it was the altar. Before everything was fixed, they chose to put God back at the center of their lives.
That's an important lesson for us.
Sometimes we think we need to have everything figured out before coming back to God. We tell ourselves, "Once I get my life together, then I'll pray more. Then I'll read my scriptures. Then I'll come back to church."
But that's not how Jesus Christ works.
He doesn't wait at the finish line.
He meets us at the construction site.
He helps us rebuild one prayer, one scripture, one act of repentance, and one step of faith at a time.
The rebuilding of the temple wasn't quick or easy. There were delays. There was opposition. Some people celebrated the progress while others wept because they remembered what had been lost.
Life often feels like that too.
Sometimes healing brings joy because we see growth. Other times it brings tears because we're reminded of painful experiences. Often, both emotions exist at the same time.
That doesn't mean you're failing.
It means you're rebuilding.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:
"It matters not how you became lost—whether because of your own poor choices or because of circumstances beyond your control. What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you."
No matter how broken something feels today, Jesus Christ sees what it can become.
He isn't finished with your story.
He's still building.
Scripture
"And they builded the altar of the God of Israel..."
—Ezra 3:2
Reflection
What is one area of your life where Jesus Christ might be inviting you to begin rebuilding instead of giving up?
Today's Challenge
Choose one small step toward Christ today.
Pray sincerely.
Read one chapter of scripture.
Ask for forgiveness.
Reach out to someone you've been avoiding.
Don't worry about rebuilding everything today.
Just lay one stone.
Then trust the Savior to help you place the next one.
Christ-Centered Thought
The rebuilding of the temple points us to Jesus Christ.
Through His Atonement, He can rebuild faith that has weakened, heal hearts that have been hurt, restore hope that has been lost, and strengthen things that feel beyond repair.
He doesn't ask you to become whole before coming to Him.
He invites you to come to Him so He can make you whole.
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