In Haggai 2, which was written in the second year of King Darius, the temple was still in a sorry state. Only the foundations had been laid, years ago, and the work had languished since then. If you were amongst the people then, looking upon this temple (or what even exists of it), how do you think you would have felt?

Maybe they had even seen the temples of other nations while they were in captivity - great, majestic, glorious. In this chapter, God Himself asks whether any of them remembered Solomon’s temple which was made lavishly with gold.

It must have been difficult to envisage what was before their eyes as glorious in comparison. The people may even have felt ashamed of what they were building.

Let us reflect - are we like this? Have we ever felt ashamed of God’s church, or afraid to tell others about our faith? When we look at the state of our own faith or of others around us, do we start to doubt and wonder how God can accomplish His plans?

God knew the people would have their doubts and fears. And yet, His message to them was in absolute terms - “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

It may seem at odds with the present situation, but circumstances have never served as an obstacle to our unchanging and almighty God. If He created the entire Universe from nothing, what can prove too hard for Him?

Sometimes we allow personal and human failures to shake our faith in God and His plans. But God is and has always been faithful to His people, as He reminds them and us in Haggai 2:5:

“‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’”

Similarly, we can also remember Jesus’ promises to us, and times when He has helped us in the past, when we feel weak and helpless.

God also shows us in this chapter that His faithfulness does not depend on how good we are. Haggai 2:14 tells us:

“Then Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.“

God continued to assure the people of His abidance and His promises, even when the people were still defiled. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ already died for us.

Today, even if we feel weak and things feel hopeless, let us remember our God is faithful. As long as we continue to put our trust in Him and turn to Him, He will surely fulfill His beautiful will through our lives, and fill His temple with glory.