“Lord, how great is our dilemma! In Thy Presence silence best becomes us, but love inflames our hearts and constrains us to speak. Were we to hold our peace the stones would cry out; yet if we speak, what shall we say? Teach us to know that we cannot know, for the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Let faith support us where reason fails, and we shall think because we believe, not in order that we may believe.” – A.W. Tozer
Have you ever tried to figure God out? Have you ever found yourself right on the brink of something new, but the uncertainty of it all began to overwhelm you? And the only truth you could hold on to was trust?
Sometimes my grasp of God is so very small. I forget how marvelous and all-powerful he is. I find myself working hard in my own strength because I can’t truly believe that God is bigger than my problem, holier than my behavior, and deeply invested in my future, even more so than I. I forget that God is God.
In the book of Zechariah a problem arose while building the temple. The word of the Lord came to the prophet with a promise that the temple would be completed, and additionally, a reminder that, in his own strength, Zerubbabel would not be able to accomplish this task. It could only be done through the power of the Spirit.
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ’Grace! Grace to it!’”
Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” Zechariah 4:6-10
When God lays ahold of your heart, calls you to deeper purpose and greater things, it may feel as though you have been called to build a temple out of rubble. But if God has truly called, then God will truly lay the foundation.
God is God, far greater and far more incomprehensible than any person we could ever know. And when reason fails, may we lean more deeply into faith. May we trust that God will complete the very thing he started in our lives.
And it is not in our might. It will not be through our power, but it will be through the Spirit which cannot be hindered.
“Our power is not in our numbers. Our power is not in ourselves. Our power is in the simplicity of Jesus.” - Dick Brogden, LiveDead
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