Haggai was an Old Testament prophet who was tasked by God to light a (metaphorical) fire under Israel upon their return from Babylonian exile. The problem was they had begun to rebuild the temple but had somehow gotten a little sidetracked adorning their own homes instead of finishing it. Haggai, it is said, accomplished more in six months than any other Old Testament prophet. He was a get-er-done sort of guy. He was faithful and obedient and not the least bit afraid to rock the boat in telling the truth.

While Haggai’s first message was enough to inspire the Israelites to action, it took three oracles to keep them going.

As I read through The Minor Prophets by James E. Smith, I am saddened, convicted, inspired, and filled with hope.

I think there is an ancient proverb that says something about the hardest step being the first one, and I used to believe that was true. Then I had children. Then I met Jesus. Then I had a husband diagnosed with ALS. And then I ran a marathon. People sometimes compare painful experiences to childbirth, but once you’re in labor there is nothing you can do to back out. You are simply along for the ride. That kind of pain–and accomplishment–is very different. The same is not true for most life experiences, including that of the Hebrew people faced with the completion of the temple, child rearing, faith, ALS, or marathons.

The most difficult challenges are those that require an intentional commitment to take the next step, and the next, and the next–to continue until the task is complete, no matter how tempting the distractions, how difficult the pain, how real the confusion, how exhausting the frustration. We may not even fully understand the why, but it is so critical to ask the Lord what He wants us to know and what He wants us to do. One time. Two times. Three times. Likely far more. Whatever it takes to finish strong–that’s what He will give us the grace for.