Some days life is just hard. Maybe you lost a computer file with all the work you completed. Maybe your child just doesn’t want to cooperate. Maybe your airport taxi did not arrive on schedule and your flight left without you. A job loss, unexpected bills, a health issue, a relationship goes sour—whatever the circumstance, your life can hurl challenges your way at any time.
The Bible provides encouragement. We can navigate our day with the fullness of the Holy Spirit rather than solely in our own strength. In our strength, life circumstances can seem impossible at times. The prophet Zechariah spoke of the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit through a vision for the governor Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel, tasked with rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, faced opposition. The vision for Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4 provides encouragement, describing a lampstand, a bowl, and seven lamps.
The seven lamps portray the seven watchful eyes of the Lord, overlooking the rebuilding of the temple and the whole earth. Two olive trees stand next to the lampstand, one on either side of the bowl. Oil fueled the lamps, oil coming from the olive tree branches, supplying oil directly to the bowl. The branches administered an automatic and unending supply of fuel for the lamps. Historically priests would refill the lamps with oil in the tabernacle. This lampstand however did not require human effort to continually emit light. A governor faced with the challenge of rebuilding the temple heard a word from the Lord that a caring God would keep His eyes on the work of the rebuilding of the temple and spiritual power would allow for the completion of the restoration efforts.
The olive oil may represent the Holy Sprit. The word of the Lord spoken to Zerubbabel included, “‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Zechariah 4:6 (NET). Zerubbabel, encumbered with the task of rebuilding the temple amid opposition, would not complete the work with human strength alone. By the power of the Holy Spirit the work would come to completion.
So often we may approach our challenging circumstances in only our strength, allowing impulsive negative responses to erupt, thinking what do I need to do next without prayer, or turning to a friend or loved one first for help. Instead, know the indwelling, powerful Holy Spirit wants to lead us, a gift from God for believers. We walk not in human strength alone, but we can walk in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for seeing my challenging circumstances and thinking I can navigate them on my own. Remind me Your Holy Spirit dwells within me and I do not need to navigate my day only in my own strength. I choose to follow Your leading in each moment because You have graciously given me Your Word and Your Holy Spirit as a guide. Thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, Amen.
References
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary. Edited by Art Farstad. 2nd ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016. p. 1067-8.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.