Haggai 2:3  ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

Picture this: Exiles come back to Jerusalem 70 years after its destruction to rebuild the Temple just as God promised, except this Temple is nothing as grand as Solomon’s Temple. The people who remember the first Temple are completely distraught by this. But God sends two prophets, Haggai & Zechariah, to encourage these people. He tells them through these prophets to not despise these “small beginnings.”

Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

God promises the latter glory will be greater and He will fill it again with His presence. Then, He tells them their only job is to work on it and be strong, i.e. trust Him! Finally, He motivates them to do just that!

Haggai 2:4-7 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while…I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

Looking back through my journals of those early days of restoration, this was the same for my marriage. The pain was unbearable. The ups. The downs. The confusion. The recovering from rejection. Some days it was all too much. I couldn’t understand why my returned prodigal wasn’t more changed, more humble, just more. So many days I begged God to release me from my stand, because, yes, I was still standing for my marriage even in restoration – even when I didn’t want to anymore. 

Probably the most poignant memory I have of those early days is after a fight with my husband, I go outside to sit on the porch alone to vent to God about how unfair it all was. I hadn’t been the one to leave. I hadn’t been the one who’d committed adultery. I hadn’t been the one to seek a divorce. Yet, I was the one hurting! Why wasn’t my husband more? Why hadn’t he changed enough? Why Why Why? Then the Holy Spirit whispered, “Do you believe God works on the other side of the mountain?” I said, “yes.” “Then trust that God is still working on the other side of the mountain…all that you see are just circumstances. God’s not done with JW/y’all yet.”

He had to change my perspective. I thought the return home of the prodigal was the end of a painful chapter in our marriage, but He was telling me it wasn’t the end, but the beginning. He was encouraging me to not be frustrated about that, instead be hopeful, strong, and expectant of what He’s going to do in us! “Don’t despise these small beginnings.”

It’s been over 13 years ago since those tumultuous and painful early days of restoration. I look back over those words in my journals (yes, there were many) and realize we’re not those same people. It’s not the same marriage. It’s not the same emotions. He really has filled this latter house with His glory and it is so much greater!

Haggai 2:9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’”

Let this be an encouragement to you. Don’t despise your small beginnings. Don’t give up in your restoration. What you see now are just circumstances, too. God’s got greater plans! Be strong and do not fear!