Life in a fallen world includes obstacles, circumstances, and happenings that can threaten to deflate, frustrate, and exhaust God’s people. Even the most faithful Christian is not immune to these potentially discouraging and joy-stealing realities. How can we possibly endure? How does God equip us to make it through?

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Hamilton’s Around the Bay Road Race is the oldest running race in North America first being held in 1894—125-years ago. It boasts a 30km course along which runners weave their way through the streets of Hamilton and, literally, around the bay, that is, Hamilton Harbour.

When I was in my early twenties and attending university in Hamilton, my father got in the annual habit of signing the two of us up for this event. Each year I protested, explaining my hatred for running, and each year I found myself at the starting line downtown Hamilton, vowing to object with more clarity the following year. 

30km. It’s terrible. And what made it worse was that, at about kilometre 25, there was this steep, 500-meter long incline that racers dubbed “Heartbreak Hill.” Many people walk up the hill, some—probably like me—crawl up. In my admittedly jaded memory, I see bodies strewn about, gasping for air, calling for help, praying for the rapture.

It’s discouraging to run 25km and then stare up at that monster. What makes it worse is knowing there’s 5km left even if you endure Heartbreak Hill.

The Christian life, what the Apostle Paul calls “the race set before us,” has many a Heartbreak Hill—obstacles, circumstances, and happenings that threaten to deflate, frustrate, and exhaust us. 

It’s not something we want to do or experience, but, as Christians, it’s part of the race we’ve been signed up to run. So how do we get up and over those hills? How can we possibly endure with faithfulness to our God? 

We’re going to find answers to those questions in Haggai 2.

Last week in Haggai 1 we found that God’s people, as they returned from exile, were called to rebuild Jerusalem and, most significantly, to rebuild God’s temple. They obeyed and got to work. 

But, in chapter 2, we find them staring up a Heartbreak Hill—lumps in their throats, discouragement in their hearts—and we’re going to hear how God encourages and equips them to endure.

The opening three verses describe the obstacle Israel was facing and the reality of discouragement that was threatening them.

In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?” 

When we compare the time-stamp that opens chapter 2 with that which closed chapter 1 we see that about a month of temple-construction has passed and the people are already frustrated. Why? Because the temple is starting to take shape and it looks nothing like it did before. 

Let’s look at Ezra 3. Ezra, like Zerubbabel, had led a group of exiled Jews back to Jerusalem and spearheaded its reconstruction and, like Haggai, he records the reality of discouragement for the people of God.

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel.With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” 

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away (Ezra 3:10–13).

Rebuilding the temple brought mixed emotions. The younger generations, those who had never seen Solomon’s temple, rejoiced that God’s house was being built. But those who had seen, entered, and used the spectacle that had been the temple before it was destroyed, were heartbroken at the pathetic house that was supposedly taking its place.

For them it was like replacing the Colosseum in Rome with a YMCA. Sure, they offer some of the same functions, but no-one who had seen the former would say they were equal.

God’s people had survived exile clinging to their faith, journeyed back to the promised land, and began to rebuild. They’d run the first 25km and survived but now they’ve come to Heartbreak Hill. They look at the temple being built, remember the temple that was destroyed, and discouragement starts to grip their hearts: “Nothing’s ever going to be the same! Why should we continue?” This is the reality of discouragement.

And you and I feel this at times also, don’t we? We may not be worried about temple reconstruction, but there are plenty things that threaten discouragement.

We want to be faithful to Christ, obedient to God, to evangelize, to kill personal sin, to run the race as to get the prize. And, lots of the time, we’re hitting our stride; we’re in a rhythm and we’re making progress. But then, BAM! Heartbreak Hill. Discouragement.

John Calvin was a significant voice and influence in the Protestant Reformation. By all accounts, he was a convicted, gifted, and productive man of God. But listen to some of the reflections he wrote about his Christian life:

“I am entangled in so many troublesome affairs that I am almost beside myself. … In addition to the immense troubles by which I am so sorely consumed, there is almost no day on which some new pain or anxiety does not come.”

Can you relate? Maybe you feel you’ve plateaued in your relationship with God. Perhaps you felt you were making progress in an evangelistic effort only to suddenly have that door slammed shut. Maybe you were experiencing victory over a sin struggle in your life only to backslide and now you’re thinking, “Why bother?”

Discouragement is a reality for each Christian. None are immune.

Haggai was sent to a people experiencing the reality of discouragement and, in verse 4, we find a call for endurance. It’s a prophetic pep-talk.

[2:4] But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 

“Be strong, be strong, be strong.” This triple-command sounds like Joshua 1 where the people were discouraged because of the death of Moses. God says to Joshua, their new leader:

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Likewise, Haggai is speaking to discouraged people, saying, “Be strong.” And, notice in verse 4, the purpose for “being strong”: “and work”! “Strengthen your resolve, press on in the task I’ve given you. Find all you’ve got left and persevere in faithfulness. Grit your teeth and power up this hill.” It’s a divine call for endurance. 

Sometimes that’s what you and I need to hear from God as well. “be strong and work, Christian.” Ignore what may look like a lack of progress. Take your eyes off the seemingly impossible goal. Look away from the set-backs. Put the pain and inconvenience out of your mind. Put your head down and be faithful in doing what you’re supposed to be doing. “Be strong and work.” 

That’s easier said than done and, without any guidance or aid, this is no more helpful than someone standing at the bottom of Heartbreak Hill saying, “You can do it! Push through!” You’re tempted to shout back, “Then you come do it!”

But God is never like that, is he? When he calls us to a task, he also equips us for that task and, as we keep reading in Haggai 2, we find the provisions that help. God calls us to endure discouragement and then provides the help we need. 

Verse 4 ends with “For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Times may be tough, but God Almighty has not abandoned his people.

‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

“I was with you when I delivered you from Pharaoh and I’m still with you now.” God’s presence is always with his people.

We read a similar claim in Hebrews. As the letter closes, the author addresses a bunch of potential discouragements his readers were facing and calls for endurance, “because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence,  ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me’ (13:5–6)?

What has God given his people to help us endure? First, his irremovable, all-powerful, life-giving presence: “For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” You’re not running alone.

But it isn’t just his presence that God provides; it’s also his promise.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” 

There is a day coming, God says, when, like he did at Mt. Sinai, he will demonstrate his power by literally shaking creation. There is a day coming when all nations will offer their treasures to God and his glory will fill the temple with such potency that it will make Solomon’s Temple look like a dollhouse. And, because God rules over all, when this promised day arrives, there will be peace.

When will this happen? When Christ returns.

Joel 3:16a, “The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble.”

Isaiah 9:7, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

As it was a future promise for the people in Haggai’s time, so it is for you and I today. There is coming a day, promised by God, when Christ will literally return, literally sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem, establish his literal earthly Kingdom, literally subject all nations to his rule, and literally establish perfect peace. It’s a promise from the God who cannot lie.

So, God says, “Be strong and work! Endure the discouragements of life in this sin-stained world riddled with disappointments and frustrations. How? Because of my presence and because of my promise.”

When runners cross the Around the Bay finish line, they’re met with cheers of congratulations and long tables of food and drink. As I approached Heartbreak Hill, I could think of these things waiting for me—the celebration and feast—and it would spur me onward. 

But you know what motivated me more than all that? Stopping running! I would think to myself, the sooner I get to that finish line the sooner I can get these shoes off, sit down, and rest!

As Christians today, we endure this race with all its pains and frustrations because we know there is coming a time in the future in which, yes, there will be celebration and feasting, but, perhaps more than any of that, there will be no more running. No more pain. No more sin. But eternal, perfect peace.

So, Keep climbing! friends. Keep climbing those hills! The discouragements of this life are real but we can faithfully endure because we have God’s presence and God’s promises fuelling and focusing us. Be strong and work! Keep climbing.

Now, in an effort to apply this to our lives, I want you to think right now of two things and we’re going to marry them together this week for the sake of application.

First, think of a specific discouragement you’re dealing with right now in life. We all have them. Something that’s causing you frustration, fear, heartache, or doubt. A losing fight with sin, an unbelieving, critical, or unsupportive spouse, a strained relationship with an adult children or your parents, a looming decision to be made, an ongoing worry, nagging doubt, loneliness, stress, health struggle, or money problem. Maybe you have more than one; but, for now, identify the one that seems most disheartening. 

Got it? Good. Now, the second thing I want you to think about is a single set of stairs in your life that you climb at least every day. Maybe it’s at your home, at the office, or on your exercise route. (If there are no stairs, then maybe an elevator you ride.)

Now, we’re going to marry those two things together. This week, when you climb those stairs or when you ride that elevator, think about that potential discouragement in your life, that battle you’re fighting, and quickly ask God, “Lord, help me keep climbing. Help me be strong and work. Remind me of your presence and your promises. Lord, help me endure this discouragement. Help me keep climbing.” 

We want to be diligent in giving these discouragements over to the Lord and leaning on his provisions for endurance. 

William Carey was a missionary to India and is often called the “Father of Modern Missions.” When he first arrived in the mission field in 1793 he faced a lot of discouragement: His wife and children became ill, he lost all his money, he was opposed by local authorities, and his evangelism seemed to bear no fruit. During those times, he wrote this in his journal: 

“When I left England, my hope of India’s conversion was very strong; but amongst so many obstacles, it would die, unless upheld by God. Well, I have God, and His Word is true. Though the superstitions of the heathen were a thousand times stronger than they are, and the example of the Europeans a thousand times worse; though I were deserted by all and persecuted by all, yet my faith, fixed on the sure Word, would rise above all obstructions and overcome every trial. God’s cause will triumph.” 

That’s endurance relying on the provisions of God!

Discouragements are unavoidable in this life. But, as we saw today in Haggai 2, we’re to be strong and work. We’re to keep climbing! How? Because of God’s presence and promise. And so, we’re called, invited, commanded to cling to those realities and endure our personal Heartbreak Hills with his power and for his glory.