TWR: When a Dream Sits Half-Completed



I sorta have a thing for the story of Zerubbabel in the Bible. For one, it’s an amazing story of God’s redeeming power. For two, that name—Zerubbabel—what were his parents thinking?? In case you are unfamiliar with the man—Zerubbabel, and his story—let me give you a run-down (By the way, if you should want to read it for yourself it’s found in the books of Ezra, Zechariah, and Haggai). Zerubbabel was a direct descendant in the line of King David—this is important; it made him governor. He, along with Ezra and a large group of Jews, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Everything started off fine. They had favor. They had supplies. They had high spirits. They poured the foundation, raised the walls… they get to about the halfway point, when all of a sudden opposition arises. The temple rebuilding is ordered to be stopped. So it did. And it sat, uncompleted for 14 years. 

I imagine the way that uncompleted project must have tormented Zerubbabel. The way it must have felt like failure. This dream—this life’s call—to see the temple of the Lord rebuild, and there it sat half done.

But then, after 14 years, God spoke through the prophet Zechariah and said, “’It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord God of Hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”… The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you’” (Zech. 4:6-9). Not too long after this prophecy, a new decree was issued, and the work immediately resumed. A few years later and the half-completed temple was brought to a full completion. It took 20 years from the first brick to the last one, but God finished what he started in Zerubbabel.

Photo by Microsoft. Words added.

I think sometimes we need one thousand reminders that God is Faithful, that He finishes what He starts, that even though you may have laid some dreams aside—so you could go to college, start a family, help your husband, take care of a sick relative—God will finish what He started in you. The Bible says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29). God didn’t decide to call you—put this dream in your heart and have you start working towards it—only to decide after some kid of life happened, just kidding, your done now, let’s take back those gifts. Nope! But the Bible is abundantly clear that pauses, waits, unforeseen detours are all a part of the process. And those pauses, waits, and unforeseen detours are no thing to God. The second God said that temple would be rebuilt by His power, guess what? Decree was no thing. God did it. Whether you are in a different season of your life or you are facing a roadblock, it is no thing to God.

God is abundantly able to finish that work, that hope, that dream in you. And you can strive, try your hardest to make it happen yourself, or go down feeling defeated, but the thing is, “It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” When it’s time, God will make the way. In fact, God is making the way now. God will finish what He started in you. Bottom line: You need to trust Him.  

You CAN trust Him.

I thought I would leave you with 2 more verses I have found comfort in as I wait:

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

 Photo by my super talented friend, KatieFewellPhotography. Used with Permission.

Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay."

(I love that last verse! You?)

Tomorrow, I will be posting an announcement for something that has been on my heart. 

Thursday I will have the last post I have written for The Waiting Room ready for you. It's gonna be good. :)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sitting with me in The Waiting Room. Waiting is always easier in the company of friends. :)
xo
Amanda




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