At different points in our careers we are hit with stress, discouragement and straight up exhaustion as we confront the challenges and obstacles in building our organizations. Do these feelings mean God has something else for us, or that we are moving in the wrong direction? In the book of Zechariah, we see God working on the hearts of overwhelmed, discouraged and burnt out Jews struggling to carry out their work.
A small remnant of Jews had returned home to Judah, from their exile in Babylon, with the immense job of rebuilding Jerusalem (likely a harder task than building a business). Not only that, God also tasked them with rebuilding His Temple so He could once again dwell with his people.The Jews started these daunting tasks, but eventually the work on the Temple stalled as pressure from hostile neighbors mounted. As more time passed, they began ignoring their call to rebuild entirely.
For over 15 years, God and His prophets encouraged, pleaded and implored the remnant of Israel to finish the Temple. In Zechariah 8, God reiterates His love for the Jews, acknowledges their overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, and yet He still reminds them to be strong and finish the task!
“My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong, I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem! All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me?
You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. I will bring them home to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building.” (Zechariah 8:1-2, 7-9)
Rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple was a critical mission from God. Through the prophets, He patiently and persistently called them to finish the task. In verse 13 He implores them again, “So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on rebuilding the Temple.” God refused to let the feelings of fear, discouragement and exhaustion be an excuse for the Jews, but rather, a reason to trust Him.
We all have important work that He has called us to, and yet, it is impossible to push through exhaustion, stress and burnout solely relying on our own will-power. We must find our strength in Christ. With God’s strength no task is impossible, no matter how overwhelmed or discouraged we might feel.
Is there a task that God clearly put in your life that discouragement, or exhaustion is preventing you from finishing?