"Be strong . . . and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:4).
"To whom did God say these words?" my husband asked as he read this Scripture in Family Devotions this morning. God was encouraging Zerubbabel and all the people who were rebuilding the broken down temple after coming back from Babylon. They had many adversaries as they tried to build. They had one setback after another. But God encouraged them to be strong and work because He was with them to help them.
You too are in a great building program--the biggest building project of the nation! The building and strengthening of your family. Building takes work. It doesn't just happen. You constantly face new challenges and difficulties. But, dear mother, please be encouraged. God is with you! In fact, the Lord of hosts is with you--the God of the armies of heaven who fights on your behalf.
He encourages you today. "Rise up, be strong, and work!" "Ouch! Do I have to work?" Yes, God doesn't give you His strength to sit on the couch and look at the mess around you. He doesn't give you His strength to sit and watch TV. He gives you His divine strength to enable you to do this great task of mothering and managing your home that He has given you. When your strength runs out, He gives you His strength.
You can do it with His strength, because He is with you.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell