The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in Nehemiah was not just about protection—it was about restoration. Exile had undone Israel’s identity, leaving them lost, unseen, and defined by failure. But God, in His mercy, renamed and reclaimed them, reaffirming their place in His covenant. Nehemiah’s reading of the genealogy wasn’t mere record-keeping—it was a declaration of belonging, a reminder that they were still God’s people. Just as Peter, after denying Jesus, was restored by Christ’s love, we too are not defined by our failures but by God’s promise. Through Jesus, who took on our shame at the cross, we are named, forgiven, and secured in His hands. Our challenge now is to live into this identity, reminding one another of who we are in Christ and walking in the assurance that He has held us all along.