Celebrate good times, come on!

Today's Reading: Nehemiah 12

Have you ever come to the end of a long project and just wanted to throw a big party? After taking a l-o-n-g break from college, I returned to school in the fall of 1999. It had been over 15 years since I had been in a college classroom and I was terrified! But I plowed through four semesters and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2001. I was also a single mom with two kids who were in middle and high school at that time. They were very active in youth group and sports and dance and all kinds of other activities. It was a very busy time and I look back at it now and can’t imagine how all three of us survived it! 

As I read Nehemiah 12:1-27, I am again overwhelmed by the list of details. As the priests and Levites began their work in the Temple, God provided many resources and helpers for their tasks. That was my experience while in college as an adult. There were many times that God stretched my already too-thin budget to cover the things we needed. There were many times that He provided extra bodies to pick up kids from activities or to deliver them where they needed to go. There were many times He stretched my time too so that all the work got done on time! How gracious of God to know the exact needs we have and to time His response perfectly. 

In the last half of the chapter, the wall is finally dedicated. Imagine their excitement as they filled Jerusalem on that day. Verse 43a tells us, “And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy.” I also remember my excitement on leaving that last class…and the sense of accomplishment I felt as I walked into graduation. I was done and it was time to party! My parents and some friends graciously threw me a graduation reception complete with food and folks who had loved and supported me through the journey. Some of them even brought presents! It was a great celebration! How gracious of God again to know that when our work is done, our bodies need rest and our souls need to rejoice. 

What long-term project have you got going on? You know, the one you think will never end. You can take comfort from Nehemiah 12 and know that God will see you through to the end. And then He will help you celebrate!

- Holly Barrett