Living Stones in a New Foundation

Standing in the ruins of what once was, we find ourselves in the company of ancient exiles who returned home only to face a heartbreaking reality: the temple they're rebuilding looks nothing like the glory they remember. Through the prophet Haggai's words, we're invited into an honest conversation about loss, decline, and the courage it takes to build when everything feels diminished. This message doesn't offer cheap comfort or toxic positivity. Instead, it names what we're all thinking: things aren't what they used to be. But here's where the transformation begins. God doesn't promise to restore the past; God promises something greater. The latter glory will exceed the former, not by returning to what was, but by becoming something new. We're challenged to sing new songs, to find joy in smaller gatherings that go deeper, and to recognize that our limitations might actually be our calling. The springs we're building in our valley of weeping aren't just for us—they're wells for future generations. We're learning that faithfulness isn't about size or resources; it's about showing up with broken hearts and tired hands to lay one stone at a time, trusting that God is building something we can't yet see.