Begin With the Altar
Where do you turn first when your world falls apart? When the bottom drops out of your career, when a relationship crumbles, when your plans collapse, or when your faith feels like it’s barely holding on—what do you do? Some of us try to fix things fast. Others distract themselves by staying busy, scrolling, or numbing the pain. Some freeze in fear, overwhelmed by the rubble around us. But what if there’s a better place to start?
Let me take you back to a moment in Scripture where everything had fallen apart—literally.
The Return to Ruins
In the book of Ezra, the Jewish people return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon. It was supposed to be a homecoming—a fresh start and a new beginning. But when they arrived, all they found was ruin. The city walls were shattered. Their homes were gone. And the temple—the sacred meeting place between heaven and earth—was nothing more than a heap of burned stones. It was devastating. Imagine the heartbreak. Imagine standing in the middle of what used to be your life… and all you see is rubble.
So what did they do first?
They rebuilt the altar.
Worship Before Walls
Before rebuilding their homes, before clearing debris, and even before touching the foundation of the temple, they restored worship. They didn’t start with safety. They didn’t start with a strategy. They started with surrender.
“Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests… began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it…” (Ezra 3:2)
They chose to reconnect with God before doing anything else. And that’s the kind of wisdom we often miss.
When Your Life Is in Pieces
Your ruins may look different. Maybe it’s the loss of a job, a diagnosis, a broken marriage, a season of depression, or a shattered sense of purpose. Whatever the wreckage, you may be asking, “Where do I even begin?” Scripture gives us a clear answer: begin with the altar.
What That Means Today
No, you don’t need stones or a sacrifice, but you do need to return to the heart of worship. It may look like coming back to God in prayer—even when the words feel heavy. Opening your Bible—even when you don’t “feel spiritual.” Choosing to praise—even when your emotions resist it. Letting go of control and surrendering again. It’s seeking the Lord, acknowledging His presence, and submitting to His wisdom, timing, and love. That’s how you reset your soul.
Why Worship Comes First
Worship doesn’t erase the rubble or instantly fix the damage, but it realigns your heart with the One who can rebuild. It centers your scattered soul. It opens the door for restoration to begin—not from the outside in, but from the inside out. When you start with the altar, the rest of life begins to come back into alignment.
So, Where Are You Right Now?
Maybe you’re standing in your own version of Jerusalem, staring at ruins. If that’s you, don’t wait until everything is fixed to return to God. Don’t wait until life feels stable to reconnect with your Creator. Start with worship. Start with surrender. Start with the altar.
Because that’s always the best place to begin again.
