Dr. Phil is an American celebrity psychologist known for delivering hard truths candidly. When he encounters someone mired in self-pity or in a rut of poor choices, he asks, ″How's that working for you?″ He understands that people won't change unless they're sick and tired of the status quo. The first thing to do when you are in a hole is stop digging!

God makes the same point through Haggai. After providing a glimmer of hope with His previous question, the Lord Almighty now urges His children to take an honest look at their situation. Twice, God says, ″Give careful thought to your ways″ (Haggai 1:5, 7).

The first time when God tells them to consider their ways, He wants them to acknowledge how futile their stalled lives have become. They work hard but have little to show for their efforts. They eat but are never full; layer on clothes but are never warm; and seem to put their money ″in a purse with holes in it″ (v. 6). What's the use of all their labour? Are you fed up with your current situation? Only after we recognise the futility of our ways can we move on to God's second ″Give careful thought to your ways″ (v. 7).

This time the Lord Almighty invites Israel to consider why they're stuck. He tells them that He had blown away the fruit of their labour because they had forgotten Him. He was disciplining them because of His house ″which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house″ (v. 9).

You and I may not be stuck because of our Father's discipline, but if we feel stuck it's at least in part because we've taken our eyes off Him. It's impossible to feel stuck for long when we're living for our true end, ″which is Christ in you, the hope of glory″ (Colossians 1:27).

We may feel mired in a relationship or project that seems mundane. It doesn't seem to be working, and even if it did, it wouldn't be great. What's the use of labouring? To get out of the rut, we need to confess that we are stuck and cry out to God for help. Our circumstances may not change immediately, but our perspective will. We will view our situation from God's perspective, and that will make all the difference.