Discouragement

Ezra was in Babylonian/Persian-Median, patiently awaiting the Lord's command to go back to Jerusalem. Perhaps like Daniel, he knew the 70 years of captivity was about to end, and Ezra was starting to get giddy. Sure enough, as the prophecy forecast, Cyrus make his proclamation, "...Go to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build The Temple of God, the God of Israel, Jerusalem's God. Those who stay behind, wherever they happen to live, will support them with silver, gold, tools, and pack animals, along with Freewill-Offerings for The Temple of God in Jerusalem." So off Ezra went, returning on the first caravan with the governor Zerubbabel, and the high priest Joshua.

They lay the foundation of the temple and the people rejoice! But just when times seem so good, winds of trouble blow in from the north, angry because they are not allowed to worship through helping to build the temple. To make matters worse, a new king is in Persia. After a letter of accusation from the adversaries, work is stopped by order of the king.

Discouragement. "Why has the Lord sent us back to Jerusalem, only to lay the foundations of the temple!" Times seemed so good. They were even doing the work of the Lord. Who can know His ways! Could this be the will of God?

Along comes encouragement. A couple guys who came in on the first caravan back, were used of the Lord. Haggai and Zechariah come onto the scene with a message from the Lord, "It's time to build." They might have replied, "But the king said...". "But the Lord said." So they start building. Zechariah comes with messages from the Lord to encourage Joshua and Zerubbabel. Haggai confirms this, "I am with you, saith the Lord" (Haggai 1:13).

You've guess whats going to happen next. Those old adversaries write the king, this time a new king, Darius. The Lord showed that this is going to be the time that His temple will be built, as not only is the command to work granted but anything they needed to help build would be given to them.

Are you discouraged? I certainly have been in the past. There are many reasons why we can be discouraged. Often, and most times, it's because the Lord doesn't act in the way we suppose He will. "Why is the Lord doing that?", I ask. A plan is all laid out in my mind.

But as Isaiah tells us in 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." God has a plan, and it's better than our plan. God knows everything, and He knows what's best.

Then we might rebut, "But the Lord said...". Well, Isaiah covers that too in the next verses, 10-11, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Always remember that God never forgets. Our piddly little minds can't wrap our head around the ways of God. We need to trust that what He is doing is what is best.

Look at how it turned out for the temple builders! Better than before. Anything they needed would be supplied by the Empire itself! How glorious was the way of God in this. The encouragement of Zechariah from God came true, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel" (Zechariah 4:9-10).

Rejoice child of God! God is just working things better for you. He will deliver as He always has. Always remember that God never forgets.