Strength to Work (Haggai 2:4)
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:
Haggai 2:4 (King James Version)
Have you ever wondered why people wait to hear a word from God? I used to wonder all the time, why do I have to wait? Couldn’t God just bless what I’m doing? I didn’t have the understanding yet, that it was God that had the plan, He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and it pleases Him to include us in His plans.
When God gives a person an instruction, He also gives them everything they need to carry out that instruction. So, along with the instruction will come the provision of resources, the right connections, the anointing, the strength, the protection, the peace, the endurance and the tenacity to make it no matter what!
Then there is a confidence and a peace that comes from obeying, no matter what comes our way God is responsible for ensuring that whatever He commanded will come to pass, not by our might and effort but by God’s spirit.
In this scripture God’s people had come out of captivity and some had returned back to their homeland to re-build. God had to speak to them through the prophet Haggai to stir them up to rebuild the temple of God as a priority and not an afterthought; they had spent a lot of time and resources building their own homes.
Sure, the work had begun on the temple then it had stopped, some disappointments had been experienced and it just seemed easier to work on their own projects than the work of the Lord.
Now the crops were failing, and things weren’t looking so good until they received a word from the Lord. The people became passionate, agreed and set to work, God gave them strength and was with them, it wasn’t long before things began to change for the better.
What has God laid on your heart to ‘work’ at? What is He asking you to build or rebuild? What are you passionate about? What revelation has God given you to share in your own way? What have you begun and then had to stop because of hardships and disappointment? It’s time to work.
God brings restoration as we begin to move, it never feels good to begin moving after we’ve encountered loss, pain and hardship. But it helps if we have a word from God. We are strengthened when we have a word, so hold onto that word that resonated in your heart and you knew it was God, maybe something you read or heard.
The best thing about this, is God is with us!! We are not on our own, we can’t fail if we don’t give up, but we can be delayed. I’ve learned that God always gets what He wants in the end, even it takes multiple generations. If we don’t do it in our generation, God will raise up someone else in another generation to accomplish His will.
I am reminded of the warning that Esther received from Mordecai in Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place …”
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, mistakes are how we learn, the key is to keep moving forward with God. Keep going back to God with a truly repentant heart (it’s a lifestyle not an event). Keep leaning on God and keep checking in with God. Even if we miss a step or two or three God will order our steps and work things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
May God strengthen you to achieve what He has appointed just for you to do and He has promised you that He will be with you. This week let’s rejoice in the Lord of Hosts who is always with us and strengthens us as we work.
This is God’s word spoken in love. Remember The LORD our God, He is good and His mercies endure forever. May the blessings of the LORD overtake you and come upon you and His love surround you, for His glory. Have a blessed week. In Jesus Name.