Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. (Haggai 1:8 ESV)
Fear not… then build
I once stood outside of a railroad car filled with large burlap bags of carrots. Our job was to unload that railroad car in summer heat and humidity onto pickup trucks, lined up and waiting. I saw no way for us to finish that job. I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Sure, the paycheck was nice. But this was beyond work. I could not imagine that railroad car empty.
The first bags were the hardest. But rather than look in my imagination to the last bag, I looked at the first bag. I bent down. I lifted it onto my shoulder. I turned around. I took four steps and dropped the bag into the bed of the pickup. Then I turned around and repeated.
I learned that when facing a huge task, we have to start, begin, and take the first step.
The returning exiles faced their own railroad car of carrots. While a thing of great joy, returning home from exile was difficult, dangerous, and scary. The people of God were opposed by the new natives, by nay-sayers, and by nature’s harshness. Of course, they were glad to return to Jerusalem, God’s city. But the task of rebuilding, reforming, and recuperating was daunting.
When we face daunting tasks, sometimes we freeze up. When we face daunting tasks, sometimes we complain. When we fact daunting tasks, sometimes we give up. When we face daunting tasks, sometimes we stop trying.
But Haggai instructs us, alongside the Israelites, to build God’s house. Starting with the beginning steps. For them, it was finding wood. What are your first steps to overcoming your problems?
As simplistic as it sounds… our first steps (our first bag of carrots, our first piece of lumber) include prayer, God’s Word, and worshiping God.
Focus on them, and the railroad car empties.
Fear not, then build.