Ezra 4: Ultimate Encouragement

Oh my goodness, all I could think about today as I read this chapter was how many times I personally have experienced what felt like a breakthrough or felt like a moment where yes finally things are being restored, things are coming to fruition, etc. etc. — finally, finally — and then to have this kind of opposition and everything go on hold until Darius was in charge. How discouraging that must’ve felt.

“Thus the work on the house of God… came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius.”  (Ezra 4:24)

A testing of their faith. And what an opportunity for me to look at my own life right now where I may be very discouraged and can see this very similar pattern of the enemy wanting to come against what the Lord is doing.

I’m going to journal today because I have a feeling this is going to be an encouragement for me in more than one way. We know restoration is coming, but clearly it wasn’t overnight and it wasn’t easy. THERE'S NO QUESTION I NEED to take some time today to write down past and present times I have seen glimpses of breakthrough to only feel moved backwards five steps… and lean into that. Where might God be working in the midst of that and I dismissed it?