Nehemiah was employed by the King of Persia, the same king who sent Ezra to Jerusalem to teach God's laws and restore the worship of the God of Israel.  What did Nehemiah do in the king's employ?  He was cupbearer to the king, which means He brought the wine to the king and tasted it first to make sure it was not poisoned.  Nehemiah was a trusted servant, in a risky yet very personal relationship with a powerful and influential man.
When Nehemiah inquires of some who returned from Judah, he is heartsick over the news.  Just like Ezra, he hears of the state of his homeland and his people and is in deep mourning! "For some days, I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."  (Chapter 1 verse 4b)  And what does Nehemiah ask of God?  "favour in the presence of this man."  (v. 11)
The book of Nehemiah records that he heard the news of Jerusalem's trouble and disgrace in the month of Kislev.  And when he appears before King Artaxerxes with a sad demeanor, it is the month of Nisan.  I believe that is about a four-month span.
Do we have the patience and the self-discipline to mourn and fast and pray for that long before seeking solutions for a critical problem?  Four months?
But when Nehemiah's troubled spirit is noticed by the king and he is questioned, Nehemiah comes with his dilemna.  Although he has prayed and prepared for such an opportunity..."I was very much afraid." (v. Chapter 2 v. 2b)  If this servant was anything but cheerful and respectful to the royal one, his life could be in jeopardy.  Even a frown could cost him his life if the king was so inclined to take offense.  And of course, for Nehemiah to even mention his home country and any issues that may reflect on the king's reign or business in far-off Israel, this also could be a death sentence.
As we know from the book of Ezra, King Artaxerxes was all in favour of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the establishing of the worship of the God of Israel.  So, Nehemiah does take the chance, voices his burden and the king's reply is:  "What is it you want?"
Do we have the courage to ask what we want?  Do we have the wisdom to ask for the right things?
The hero of this story does find favour in the eyes of the king.  And as we read in Ezra, "...because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." (v. 8b)  And soon, Nehemiah finds himself en route to Jerusalem, with letters of approval and permission to use timber from the king's forest to rebuild the gates and walls and even construct a residence for Nehemiah.
Stay tuned for the rest of Chapter 2...