When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
- from Nehemiah 7:73-8:1

Today’s passage takes place after the end of the great wall building project to restore the honor of Jerusalem. The people settled in their towns around the outskirts of the city. Life began to return to normal. That’s where today’s passage finds us.

What do you do at the end of a great, good project? We’ve talked about building and rebuilding families, careers, homes, churches, and communities. But what happens next?

These post-project periods can be some of the most difficult. Moving from the wedding to the marriage, from the career to the retirement, from one parenting stage to the next … these transitions often carry temptations, identity-crises, and stress. What you do on the other side of a major transition reveals a lot about the health of your soul.

It’s fascinating to watch the turn that the people of Jerusalem take after they finish rebuilding their walls and gates. When they gather together again, they turn to the next rebuilding project: rebuilding their faith.

The irony is that rebuilding Jerusalem already required a tremendous amount of faith. They believed in God’s generosity and his protection. They demonstrated faith daily and every day brought progress. With the wall finished, they had an opportunity to deepen their relationships with God. And they took it.

The whole rebuilding team gathered and called for Ezra to read the Book of the Law of Moses to them. Building the wall and gates was never just about the wall and gates. Behind that rebuilding project stood a desire to reconnect with the Lord.

What happens for you on the tail end of a major project? What things have you discovered about yourself in those times of transition? How have you met the Lord in those times of transition?