When Fear Redirects our Focus: A Reflection from Haggai
Haggai. A book in the Bible that doesn’t get a lot of mentions. A book that is relatively small in comparison to so many others. And yet, the book of Haggai is one that has convicted me to my core as of late.
This post is meant to be encouragement—but if you make it to the end and feel a twinge of conviction, then I know I’ve hit home with what the Lord has really been impressing on me.
Historically, the book of Haggai opens at a very specific moment. Israel had been in exile for nearly seventy years. They were finally allowed to return home, and with that return came clear instruction from the Lord: rebuild the temple.
Haggai 1:1 opens with God speaking directly to His people through the prophet Haggai. This was not the first time God had spoken about rebuilding His house.
Years earlier, the story had begun in Ezra 1:1–4, when the Lord stirred the heart of King Cyrus of Persia. God moved a pagan king to issue a decree allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem with one clear purpose—to rebuild the house of the Lord. Not only were they given permission to return, but they were also sent with resources, support, and provision for the work.
So when Haggai speaks, this is not a new command. It is a reminder. God had brought them back to the land intentionally. Returning home was never the end goal. Restoration was always meant to include rebuilding His house.
They began the work. The foundation was laid. Obedience was in motion.
But opposition came. As recorded in Ezra 4, resistance rose from surrounding nations who actively worked to discourage the people. Fear set in. Discouragement took root.
Scripture tells us plainly what happened next:
“Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:24)
And it is here that Scripture lets us hear their reasoning in their own words.
Rather than pressing through in obedience, they shifted their focus inward. They turned their attention to their own homes—making them comfortable and beautiful—while explaining away the delay:
“The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” (Haggai 1:2)
When Opposition Redirects Our Focus
God did not ignore what had happened.
In His rebuke, He pointed directly to the result of their choices. They planted much but harvested little. They ate but were never satisfied. They drank but were still thirsty. They clothed themselves but were never warm. And the money they earned seemed to disappear—as if their purses had holes in them. (Haggai 1:6)
That part stopped me in my tracks.
Oh, how I have felt that.
I’ve wondered what I was doing wrong. Why it felt like I was working so hard but never quite seeing the fruit. Why things felt off—spiritually, emotionally, even practically. But Haggai 1:9 brings clarity:
They were busy with their house, not God’s.
Yes, opposition started the slowdown—but instead of returning to God’s work once the fear set in, they poured their energy into themselves. The focus shifted from spiritual obedience to personal comfort. From God’s glory to their own.
Obedience Restarted—And Then Doubt
Once the people heard the rebuke of the Lord, they responded. They recognized their error and began rebuilding the temple as they should have all along.
But obedience did not instantly remove discouragement.
Doubt followed.
The new temple didn’t look like the old one. It wasn’t as grand. It didn’t seem as impressive. Comparison crept in, and with it, disappointment. (Haggai 2:3)
More than once, God spoke words they desperately needed to hear:
“Be strong… My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” (Haggai 2:4-5)
That reassurance matters.
God did not deny the opposition. He didn’t pretend the work was easy. Instead, He reminded them that His presence had not left just because the work felt harder.
The Question I’m Asking Myself
This is the part I’m still praying through.
Have I truly shifted my focus?
Am I building God’s Kingdom—or am I pouring my energy into my own house while telling myself “it’s just not the right time”?
I want my life to reflect that I am working on God’s Kingdom—His temple, His work, His people—not my own platform, comfort, or sense of control.
Haggai 2:6 says:
“In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.”
And Haggai 2:9 follows with a promise that makes my heart ache in the best way:
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.”
Kingdom Minded
This is where the Lord has been dealing with me most personally.
In a season of prayer, when I was wrestling through weariness, discouragement, and questions about fruit, the Lord impressed one phrase on my heart—simple, but weighty:
Kingdom Minded.
Not comfort-minded. Not schedule-minded. Not survival-minded.
Kingdom Minded.
It was a gentle but firm reminder that the call has not changed. The work has not shifted. God is still building His house—and He is still inviting His people to take part in it.
This Is What I’m Ready to See
This—this—is what I want to see.
I don’t want to build my own kingdom. I want to build His house.
I’m tired.
I’m tired of seeing the same things over and over. I’m tired of empty pews. I’m tired of watching people walk in and leave unchanged.
We have felt the presence of God in so many services, and I am deeply grateful for that. But I still ask the hard questions:
Where are we missing it?
Where are we missing bringing souls into God’s house?
Psalm 127:1 keeps ringing in my spirit:
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”
A Pastor’s Wife Perspective
There is so much here, and I know I can’t unpack it all in one post.
God has been incredibly good to me and my family—but I have to ask myself where my focus has truly been. Has it been centered on comfort and survival? Or has it been on the souls that are still in need?
This isn’t your average blog post.
Honestly, it may be meant to encourage me just as much as anyone reading it.
Maybe you aren’t walking through this in your church. Maybe you are. Maybe this resonates because you’re a pastor’s wife. Or maybe you’re simply someone trying to move forward in obedience while facing resistance at every turn.
The Lord began dealing with me about these Scriptures over three months ago. Since then, it feels like opposition has increased—not decreased. Pushback from every direction.
Standing Firm When Opposition Comes
The enemy does not want God’s Kingdom to advance.
His goal has always been the same—to stop the work by sowing seeds of doubt, fear, distraction, and weariness. Because if he can slow one person, discourage one leader, or silence one voice, he can prevent the ripple effect of that obedience reaching someone else.
I’ve felt the burnout. I’ve felt the doubt. I’ve felt the fear.
And I’ve learned that standing firm doesn’t always look like pushing harder or doing more. Sometimes it looks like guarding your mind, holding your focus steady, and refusing to let opposition rewrite what God has already spoken.
That is why this verse has mattered so much to me in this season:
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Opposition will come—but it does not get to have the final word. God’s call is stronger than fear, and His Kingdom work is worth standing firm for.
Scriptures I’m Holding Onto
These are verses I’m keeping close—verses we need ready and active in our hearts:
- “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33
- “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” — Romans 12:2
- “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” — Colossians 3:2
- “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” — Philippians 4:8
- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15
A Gentle Invitation, Not a Rebuke
I pray this encouraged you in some way.
Let’s not take this as condemnation—but as a call to examine our lives.
Are we focused on building our own lives and personal gain? Or are we intentionally building the Kingdom first?
That is what Kingdom Minded truly means—placing God’s Kingdom above everything else.
There are a thousand things that need to happen around my own house. But if I want to see God work greatly in my life, then my focus must remain on building His Kingdom first.
If you’ve made it this far, I want you to know something—you’re not alone in this wrestle. Whether you’re leading, serving quietly behind the scenes, raising a family, or simply trying to stay faithful when fear and discouragement creep in, God sees you. And just like He did in Haggai, He is still gently calling His people back—not in condemnation, but in love.
If this reflection resonated with you, I invite you to explore more encouragement here on the blog. You’ll find Scripture-rooted reminders for seasons of weariness, clarity for moments of doubt, and grace-filled encouragement for everyday faithfulness. My prayer is that what you read here helps steady your heart and refocus your steps on what truly matters.
If you’d like encouragement like this delivered straight to your inbox each week, you’re also invited to join Stay Rooted—a weekly encouragement email meant to help you stay grounded in God’s truth no matter the season.
Remember, I’m always praying for you—even if I don’t know who you are.
