If you’re one of those people who consistently plugs away at doing good, progress can seem excruciatingly slow. It’s as though nothing’s happening, until all of a sudden you look back to discover how far you’ve really come. 

For a young mother immersed in nappy rash, teething and tantrums, time passes slowly. But on the day her child graduates from college, she can look back at the amazing journey she’s been on, the progress that happened through her labour and toil.

For a young person stepping into the workforce with big dreams, the slog of starting at the bottom means that time moves at a glacial pace. But a few years later, with more responsibility and a bit more in their pay packet …  “Wow, look how far I’ve come!”

When Israel returned to the Promised Land after their seventy years of Babylonian exile, the rebuilding of the once glorious Temple in Jerusalem was a daunting task. Under extremely difficult circumstances, they began this mammoth undertaking with humble and seemingly insignificant first steps. But God honours the beginning, however small, when it’s movement in the right direction. Writes the Prophet, to encourage them …

Zechariah 4:10 People will not be ashamed of the small beginnings, and they will be very happy when they see Zerubbabel with the plumb line, measuring and checking the finished building.

In God’s economy, faithfulness in the little things is precious. What matters isn’t how quickly (or slowly) time appears to be passing, but that you’re moving in the right direction. In His eyes, progress is progress. And He blesses that.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.