In my last post I talked about the prophet Haggai and how God gives him oracles to deliver to the people of Israel, not only to get them inspired to begin but also to continue their work of rebuilding the temple. That’s because ancient people, just like modern ones, need a lot of encouragement to take the first step, and the next, and the next. God knows this about us, because He made us, but we seem to feel uniquely flawed when we get down, tired, distracted, and discouraged.

If the struggle to keep on keeping on is beating you up today, know that you are not alone. According to James E. Smith in The Minor Prophets: “In the Old Testament world the inability to complete an important project in life was considered a terrible curse from God” (See Deut. 28:30-33; 38-42). This whole finishing-strong-thing is a major theme of humanity.

It’s so easy for us to look at Scripture in a state of detachment. It’s about them. Then. And while that is true, it is equally true that God gives us Holy Scripture because it is full of examples of human behaviors and God’s responses–His promises to us in various situations which, let’s face it, we humans continue to repeat ad nauseam. So the Holy Word is also for us. Now.

I don’t know what your important project is. Maybe you are living with or helping someone else transition through a debilitating physical, mental, or emotional diagnosis. Perhaps your particular work is parenting, running a business, getting an education, or some kind of creative endeavor. In Western culture we tend to think of important work as work that pays well or requires degrees. God does not judge our importance in the same way.

If you are on this planet and breathing, then God has given you an important task. He has asked you to complete it. And yes: It is absolutely a test. If that makes you nervous, good. It should! But here’s what you must remember: It’s an open-note, open-book test, and you have full access to the teacher at any point. Any point. You can ask questions, and He will answer. If you fear you are doing it all wrong (something I fear daily), please keep reading!

Shortly after Haggai delivers God’s encouragement, another prophet emerges. Zechariah’s charge is similar to that of Haggai: Keep Israel moving forward toward the completion of the temple. Zechariah needs a little clarification on certain aspects of the vision, so the angel of Yahweh, like any good teacher, poses a rhetorical question and then goes on to explain that He will use Zerubbabel to get the project across the finish line, “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:4-6). There will be more about that in coming posts, but I want to share some commentary regarding this chapter and those who despise the “small things” they mistake for insignificant things:

“Every great work for God started small, perhaps only as a vision in the mind of a great soul of faith. In the day of small things the critics are numerous, and the carping vicious. In kingdom work every dreamer faces ridicule, every doer mockery. A thousand times he will hear the pundits opine that the dream is undoable, the work impossible. In spite of such naysayers Zerubbabel pressed on with his work with the help of the few whose hearts God had touched. The glorious completion of the temple would put to shame all those who sneered at the meager beginnings of the work.”

James E. Smith, The Minor Prophets

Whatever your important work looks like, resist the urge to let the enemy (Satan–in any and all of his devious forms) drag you down. Do not let him get into your head and into your heart and discourage or discredit your efforts. If your eyes are on Jesus, then you are doing kingdom work, and for that you need kingdom wisdom, so by all means keep reading the manual, raising your hands, and asking the teacher!

The work God calls us to in response to our circumstances can be glorifying to Him no matter how small or large the tasks might seem; theses are the tests that provide us an opportunity to demonstrate our transformation and learning, our obedience and faith.