Life is difficult. It’s especially tough for those who have faced trauma or been victimized. Though an immediate hardship may end, though abuse or dysfunction may be left behind, inner freedom is not automatic. It’s typical to remain emotionally bound by the past. It’s hard to put the pieces of life back together and move forward with hope and enthusiasm.
This was likely the case for God’s people in Judah to whom the prophet Zechariah spoke. Because of their ancestors’ sins and dysfunctions, their families had been displaced from their homeland to Assyria and Babylon. However, by God’s sovereign grace, a remnant of Jews returned to Jerusalem following a 70 year exile. These Jews returned to their homeland under the leadership of a man named Zerubbabel. Their first goal was to rebuild God’s Temple, but their initial zeal was quickly squashed by resistance from the local residents. The rebuilding of God’s House halted. The people had been used and abused by others for so long, that they had very little strength to accomplish the task of rebuilding their lives. Though they had obtained freedom, they struggled to live in the reality of their true identity as God’s uniquely chosen and treasured people.
Zechariah spoke into this condition so as to help the people recover from the immobilizing pain of the past and to reestablish their true identity. He spoke of hope for the future to enable them to recover in the present. He encouraged them through vivid visions that God was at work and healing was at hand. Above all, in the midst of the difficulty of putting the pieces of life back together, he assured them that the power for rebuilding was ultimately not their own. “‘It’s not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6).
We are driven in today’s competitive culture to be independent of God and man. We expect ourselves to out perform others and push ourselves harder when we don’t. When we reach our limit, we become depressed, turn to addictions or fall to pieces. God wants us to turn completely to him and to accomplish his purposes in his strength. God tells the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It is God’s Spirit in us accomplishing the things of God that pleases God. And the whole of our existence is to glorify him. When you think about it, it’s quite a contrast, isn’t it?
God has the power to accomplish healing and freedom in your life with regard to anything you might face. Though your own power is limited, his is not. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” Matthew 19:26. Trust him, he loves you and he’s got this.
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