Financial advisers tell clients not to check their investment portfolios every day. On any given day, markets may be way up or way down. If they're down, clients may panic sell and lock in their losses. It's much better to remain calm and take the long view. By the time they need their money, their investments should be far ahead from where they are now.

On any given day, the situation you're stuck in might trend downwards. Way downwards. Your plan for digging out is blocked, again. You want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over your head. Entirely understandable. This means you're human, and that you care.

Lift your eyes from your present distress and take the long view. As discouraged as you may feel now, you and your predicament are part of a larger story. God tells Judah, ″In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land″ (Haggai 2:6). Once more? Yes. God is referring to Mount Sinai, which ″trembled violently″ (Exodus 19:18) when God came down to cut His covenant with Israel and make them His special nation (Haggai 2:5).

God went out with His people from Mount Sinai, inhabiting the tabernacle in the wilderness and then the temple in Jerusalem. That temple was destroyed, and this ragtag remnant is trying to rebuild it. They must not give up, because God promises to deliver. ″I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory . . . The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house″ (vv. 7-9).

God's promise points to Jesus, the true temple, God with us, the desire of all nations (John 2:19; Matthew 1:23). God's promise points to the church, the body of Christ and the present temple of God on earth (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 3:16-17). You are not meant to bear your burden alone. Join a church, where brothers and sisters can help to carry your load. Finally, God's promise points to the new creation, when He will once more shake the heavens and the earth ″so that what cannot be shaken may remain″ (Hebrews 12:26-27).

It stinks to be stuck, but we can persevere when we remember this won't last forever. Jesus is returning to fix this planet and restore all things.

″Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire'″ (vv. 28-29).