“Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” Nehemiah 8:6

In the aftermath of terrors from without and injustices from within, how does a society regain stability and safety? The after effects of trauma make it difficult for any community to experience a sense of normalcy. How is daily life restored?

God sent Nehemiah to help the people reestablish life in and around Jerusalem. Those who worked to restore the city walls faced jeers, accusations, and abuse from outside their ranks, and extortion, fear and exhaustion from within. Ezra gathered all together and read the Law aloud in their hearing. When the people understood, they responded with praise, and the healing began.

The crucial first step toward recovery for an individual or a community is to hear and comprehend God’s Word. Belief gives birth to faith, and faith fortified with truth responds in worship.