When Glory Fades, Presence Remains

Sometimes life feels like standing in the ruins of something that used to be beautiful.
That’s where God’s people were in Haggai’s time—staring at the half-built temple, remembering what once was, and wondering if the best days of faith were behind them.

But God’s message wasn’t about rebuilding the gold or the grandeur.
It was simply this:

“Take courage. My Spirit abides among you.”

The glory wasn’t in the appearance of the temple—it was in the presence of God who refused to leave them.

And centuries later, Jesus said something very similar to a group of skeptics trying to trap him with questions about life after death:

“God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Even when things look broken—or gone—God is still at work. The presence that fills our lives doesn’t fade when the shine wears off. It abides. It endures.

Maybe that’s the word we need right now—in our homes, our communities, even in our nation. When we look at the fractures around us, it’s easy to get discouraged. But God’s promise is still true: the real glory isn’t in what we’ve lost; it’s in the love and courage that rise among us when we choose to keep building, forgiving, and showing up.

So take courage. God’s Spirit abides among us still.