They didn’t mean to quit.
At first, they were full of passion. The Israelites had returned from exile with a mission—to rebuild God’s temple, to restore what had been lost. The foundation was laid, and the people celebrated. But then came resistance. Threats from the outside. Doubts from the inside. And before they knew it, the work stopped. Days turned into months, months into years.
Sixteen years.
For sixteen years, the temple sat unfinished. Life moved on. They built their own homes, planted their fields, settled into a routine. The fire that once burned bright was now barely a flicker.
Does that sound familiar?
You started strong. A calling, a purpose, a dream placed in your heart by God. But then life happened. Opposition came. You got tired. Discouraged. Distracted. And one day, without even realizing it, you stopped.
That’s where the Israelites were in Ezra 5—stuck in a life that was comfortable but incomplete. Their hands were busy, but their purpose had been forgotten. So God sent two voices to shake them awake: the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. With boldness, they called the people to remember why they had come back in the first place.
And something happened. A stirring. A spark. The people picked up their tools and got back to work.
Maybe today, God is doing the same for you. Maybe He’s whispering—or shouting—“Remember why I called you. Remember the work I gave you to do.”
So, what do you do when you’ve forgotten your purpose?
1. Pay attention to God’s voice. When the noise of life drowns out your calling, He sends reminders—through Scripture, through people, through His Spirit. He hasn’t stopped speaking; have you stopped listening?
2. Take one step back in obedience. The Israelites didn’t have a full plan. They didn’t have guarantees. They had a word from God and a decision to make. So do you. Don’t wait for perfect conditions—just start.
3. Trust that God will handle the opposition. The enemy didn’t disappear when the work resumed. Accusations flew, letters were sent to the king. But this time, the people kept going. They had learned something: When God calls you to build, He also calls you to trust.
Maybe it’s been sixteen years. Maybe it’s been longer.
But if God is stirring your heart again, it’s not too late. Dust off that dream. Rekindle that calling. The same God who called you then is calling you now.
And when you step forward, don’t be surprised if the spark turns into a flame.
A Good Word 