Sometimes what lies ahead can seem quite daunting, even overwhelming, perhaps with the odds for success potentially stacked against us.

If we ever feel like that we can take encouragement from the Israelite king who had the responsibility to lead the Jews from their exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem with a view to them rebuilding the temple and the city, and resettling the region in the midst of opposition and hostility. Through God assuring Zerubbabel that He was with him, and through His word to him, the courage of Zerubbabel, the king was stirred up and he put his reservations and fears aside and did what was required by God.