In what ways can we rely on God's strength to overcome life's difficulties? The Mountain That Blocks the Path Zechariah 4 pictures Zerubbabel staring at an unfinished temple and a “great mountain” of obstacles. Yet God declares: “‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain…’” (Zechariah 4:7). That single sentence reveals how the Lord turns an overwhelming barrier into level ground. Strength Beyond Ourselves: “Not by Might” Immediately before verse 7, God gives the key: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Human resolve alone cannot bulldoze life’s mountains, but the Spirit’s power can. Relying on God’s strength means: • Trusting His Spirit to accomplish what our abilities cannot. • Expecting Him to reroute or flatten obstacles in ways we never could. • Giving Him the credit—“Grace, grace to it!”—when the capstone is set in place. How to Lean on His Strength • Remember His past faithfulness. Recalling previous “mountains” He leveled fuels confidence for today. • Pray Scripture back to Him—letting His own words anchor your faith. • Act in obedience, even when resources look thin. Zerubbabel kept building; God supplied the rest. • Speak words of grace, not defeat. The shout of “Grace!” in verse 7 affirms that divine favor—not grit—completes the task. • Rest instead of striving. When effort turns frantic, pause and invite the Spirit to work. Scripture’s Echoes of the Same Promise • Psalm 18:2: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress… my stronghold.” • Isaiah 40:29–31: “He gives power to the faint… those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength.” • Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” • Ephesians 6:10: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Each passage underlines the same truth Zechariah presents: divine strength outruns human limits. Walking It Out When the Road Is Hard • Identify the “mountain” you face—health, finances, relationships, discouragement. • Address it with God’s Word: speak Zechariah 4:6–7 aloud over your situation. • Move forward step-by-step, trusting the Spirit to level what you cannot. • Celebrate progress, however small, as evidence of His power at work. • Keep your eyes on the finished “capstone,” confident that the One who began the work will complete it (Philippians 1:6). God’s strength does more than help us cope; it turns towering difficulties into smooth ground, proving yet again that nothing is impossible when the Spirit leads the charge. |
    |