‘Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”’ Zechariah 4:7 NLT

Is the waiting period between here and where our dreams are living taking too long? Do you feel overwhelmed by the desire to do something but underwhelmed by the opportunities opening up? 

God’s timing will align with your tenacity when the pieces are perfectly in place for your advancement. Let go of all that is limiting you – thoughts of failure and defeat – and keep your focus on the finish, Friend.

Your patience might be tested in the process as you witness the world moving on while you remain planted in the same town, punching the same time clock, plateauing short of the target. It can be difficult to stay motivated when our days feel like more of the same. We might have a mountain of unfinished goals but it feels met by a whole lot of silence from God.

Take your eyes off of the undone and keep your focus on the finish.

In the Bible, when Zerubbabel wanted to rebuild the temple, he got as far as the foundation, the very beginning of a dream, before he was forced to stop. Several years went by with no work before a prophet told Zerubbabel to “set the final stone.” The last stone here represented the completed project. This final piece of the vision stood as encouragement and assurance that the temple would be finished as the Lord had promised.

Though it’s tempting to get discouraged when we see a lack of progress, God hasn’t forgotten His promises.

We cannot know the reasons God has kept us from stepping forward, but we can hold tight to the truth in His Word that reminds us He hasn’t forgotten about us. He has our best in mind.

When our same old surroundings convince us we’re just running in place, we’ve got to choose to believe beyond what we can see and trust God’s timing is taking us somewhere.

Here’s how you can be content and confident with where God has you today: Focus on the finished work of King Jesus, our Savior sitting securely on the Throne of victory.

All worries about tomorrow have to bow to a King who has already been there and is reigning over that. Every difficulty that threatens to stand in your way today will only work out God’s purposes for your good tomorrow.

Let this vision of our Sovereign God replace any thoughts of helplessness and defeat. Our Creator God will let nothing go to waste.

Doesn’t that just make you feel grateful we have a God who doesn’t miss a moment? We can live in peace knowing He is in complete control. Your calling in life is being refined and worked out in your present-day circumstances. Let this truth be your confident assurance that not all is lost. Your dreams are not dead. They are still on the throne.

Keep your focus on the finish.

“… Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG

When we keep the finish in front of us, we can be encouraged that with God’s strength and His grace, our Creator will complete the work He first began in us.

Your finish edifies God. Our Author wants to see the dreams He planted in you come to fruition. God plans on making his will happen. 

You have the power to keep going because Jesus has the power to both start and finish whatever it is you might face.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” With no vision of the future, you’ll get stuck in a cycle of frustration, defeat, and hopelessness. Friend, we need to envision the end and keep coming back to it when we’re tempted to feel helpless.

What does the finish look like for you? Is it a vision of what you still have to do or a view of what has already been done?

While you wait on God’s perfect timing for a promotion or any sign of progress, find something symbolic that reminds you of the finished work of Christ. It might be a word or specific verse in scripture that keeps you focused on Jesus. Perhaps it’s a picture that reminds you of just how big and sovereign our Creator God is. It could be an object, like a globe, that triggers your memory of our calling to go and make disciples of all nations. To spur on your faith, find that final stone, a symbol of His finished work in your life, and keep it in front of you, Friend.