Can you remember what you felt when you first became a Christian? Or, the first time you were really energised by the idea of a life of relationship with God? Maybe back then you were expecting things to turn out wildly differently than they have. Maybe you felt Christ promising a life of excitement, and it didn’t happen like that. And now you’ve been around in circles so many times and you think you’ve seen it all, and it doesn’t look like there’s a way back.
The Israelites in the book of Haggai were in the same place. They’d lost their temple, a place where they could connect with God. Then they were taken captive. Years later, they were let free to rebuild their temple. But by then, they’d lost their original zeal, and so they ended up just building houses for themselves. Perhaps cynicism had set in, and they’d decided to settle for the ‘realistic’ option. ‘God’ll never come back here the way He was (and maybe He never even was that way in the first place). So let’s just focus on looking after ourselves.’ And if you’ve ever felt discouraged by God, you’ll recognise that’s one of the first moves you’ll make: to retreat, to look after yourself. What did God say to the Israelites, then? He moved closer, and said ‘in this place, where you are now, you’ll have My peace. Yes the excitement has gone. But there’s more, and better, ahead.’ And He dropped an incredible line, a deep mystery: the glory they’d have now would be even better than it was back then.
What now?
Come, as you are, with your disillusionment. Ask Him for His peace, today.
