Everything around us seems to be constantly moving from the time our feet hit the ground in the morning to the time we attempt to sleep at night. Some days are so full that even at night there is a list of things whirling in our minds like an endless tornado of chaos. Many nights it is hard to shut it off the mind and even sleep. There are so many demands from jobs, to family, to ministry, to serving in church that it seems to be an endless cycle of pressure. We even put more pressure on ourselves to top it off when we feel like we are not where we feel we should be in our lives and working toward our dreams. In turn, this makes us feel like we have to do more. If we could just press harder and work harder maybe we could achieve the things in our hearts. How do we learn to rest when in the West everything around us demands us to do more and be more? Everything is competitive and fast moving. If you just work hard enough or do enough someday you will reach your dreams. In the church and ministry even there seems to be so much that people expect out of you. If you go outside of the box of how they think you should be you are criticized and put on the outskirts. Sometimes it feels like there is pressure from every side. Then you have to deal with life issues like death, sickness, pain, financial struggles, and family turmoil to top it off. It seems hard to find peace.

We know we are supposed to be still and rest in the Lord; but how do we be still? How do we shut off our minds? How despite circumstances do we not lost hope? How in the midst of storms do we keep our peace? These are the questions I have been asking the Lord.

My favorite scripture right now is Psalm 46:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth change, though the mountains topple into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at their swelling. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God- the holy dwelling place of Elyon. God is in the midst of her, she will not be shaken. God will help her when morning dawns. Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms totter, He utters His voice, the earth melts! Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, see the works of Adonai who brings devastations on earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear. He burns chariots with fire. Be still and know that I AM GOD. I am exalted among the nations. I am exalted in the earth. Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us. The God of Jacob is our strong tower. Selah.”

The common thread in this verse stems from relying on the strength and refuge of the Lord. Though everything seems to be going wrong, we will not fear. Why? We know that God is our refuge and strength. The God of Jacob who came through time and time again for His children. He came through and loved them even when they were at their worst. The God who through Abraham and Sarah birthed nations despite that Sarah laughed at the promises of the Lord. Her circumstances seemed opposite to what the Lord was speaking. How could a nation come from two people who were as good as dead? (Hebrews 11:12). God does not limit us to what is happening around us or by our own physical limitations or our weaknesses. We often times do; but God calls us despite where we are at. He calls us and shows us our identity even when we do not fully see it ourselves. He did this with Gideon, David, Moses, and many others.

In Psalm 46 Adonai-Tzva’ot is used. Adonai-Tzva’ot means the Lord of Hosts or the Lord of Armies.  This name reminds me of the story in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a great army. The king of Syria was angry at Elisha. Elisha was a prophet and the Lord would reveal things the King of Syria would speak in his bedroom to Elisha. Elisha would then advise the king of Israel and thwart the plans of the enemies of Israel. The king of Syria sent his army by night to surround the city Elisha and his servant were in to get them and take them out. The young servant was freaking out. The odds did not seem to be in their favor and circumstantially they were surrounded by an army! He was like Elisha what do we do!? Elisha calmly responded, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (6:14). Elisha prayed and the Lord opened the young man’s eyes. “…he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (6:17). After this, Elisha prayed and the Lord struck the Syrian army with blindness. The Lord of heaven’s armies was with them.

Sometimes we can get so focused on everything around us and the voices around us that we lose sight of the God we serve. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

I am reminded of the chapter in Zechariah 4. “Then the angel who had been speaking with me returned and woke me- like a man who is wakened from his sleep. He asked me, ‘What do you see?’ I replied. ‘Behold, I see a solid gold menorah with its bowl at the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven pipes for the lamps are on the top of it. Also two olive trees are by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on the left side of it.’ Then I responded by saying to the angel speaking with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who spoke with me responded by asking me, ‘You do not know what these are?’  I replied, ‘No, my lord?’ Then he responded to me by saying, ‘This is the word of Adonai to Zerubbabel saying: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Ruach!’ says Adonai-Tzva’ot. ‘What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring out the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace” to it.’ Again the word of Adonai came to me saying: ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this House. His hands will also finish it. Then you will know that Adonai-Tzva’ot has sent me to you. For who despises the day of small things?…” (Zechariah 4:6-11).

I read a commentary on the first part to get some insight into the text. Zerubbabel was rebuilding the temple of the Lord. He was working on rebuilding the foundation of the temple for two years when construction came to a stand still for 17 years! A lot of this delay was from opposition ,that arose from those surrounding them. In this text, the Lord used the prophet Zechariah to encourage Zerubabbel. It did not matter the circumstances. The Lord was showing Him that it was not by His might or power; but by God’s Spirit that the temple would be completed. Zerubbabel did end up finishing and dedicating this second temple to the Lord. It was a process; but the temple was completed about three and a half years later after the Jews were granted permission by the next King of Persia to continue rebuilding.

The commentary read: “Not by might . . . but by my Spirit–As the lamps burned continually, supplied with oil from a source (the living olive trees) which man did not make, so Zerubbabel need not be disheartened because of his weakness; for as the work is one to be effected by the living Spirit (compare Haggai 2:5 ) of God, man’s weakness is no obstacle, for God’s might will perfect strength out of weakness ( Hosea 1:7 , 2 Corinthians 12:10 , Hebrews 11:34 ). “Might and power” express human strength of every description, physical, mental, moral. Or, “might” is the strength of many (an “army”); “power,” that of one man [PEMBELLUS] God can save, “whether with many, or with them that have no power” ( 2 Chronicles 14:11 ; compare 1 Samuel 14:6 ). So in the conversion of sinners ( 1 Corinthians 3:6 , 2 Corinthians 10:4 ). “Zerubbabel” is addressed as the chief civil authority in directing the work… All mountain-like obstacles ( Isaiah 40:4 , 49:11 ) in Zerubbabel’s way shall be removed, so that the crowning top-stone shall be put on, and the completion of the work be acknowledged as wholly of “grace.” God removed the obstacles and through relying on the strength of the Spirit, Zerubbabel would complete the overseeing of the rebuilding of the temple. I love how our weakness or even how delay or opposition is no obstacle for God. God actually shines forth His love, grace, and the power of His Spirit even greater despite all the obstacles bringing forth a greater victory and birthing His purposes.

We need to be okay with being weak and coming from a place of small beginnings. God’s promises come to pass not by our might or power, but by God’s Spirit. He gets the glory! He is the one who is able to take the things around us that seem like great mountains and turn them into a plain. He can take our deep pain and wounds and breathe His life and healing. He is gracious and full of compassion. “This I recall to my heart-therefore I have hope: Because of the mercies of Adonai we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness. Adonai is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’ Adonai is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of Adonai.” (Lamentations 3:22-26).

The God of hosts fights for us. I remember the stories in the Old Testament where the Israelites were small and outnumbered; but the Lord was the one who would bring forth victory. He would get the glory. The nations around the Israelites knew the Lord fought for them. “Thus says Adonai to His anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him, to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him so that gates may not be shut. I will go before you and make the crooked places straight. I will shatter bronze doors and cut through iron bars. I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, so you may know that I am Adonai, the God of Israel, who calls you by name” (Isaiah 45:1-3).

Beloved, no matter what you are facing Adonai fights for you and it is okay to feel weak. It is normal to feel overwhelmed at the immensity of the things the Lord calls you to and feel like what? However,  do not lose your hope in the waiting and in the process. The Lord is working things out as we are waiting on Him. Trust His process. Trust His timing. He is for you and loves you. Be still. Do not get into comparison, restlessness, or anxiety. Seek Him day by day. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with your whole heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-12).

We need to be people who are humble enough to sit at the feet of Jesus and wait on the Lord to exalt us. All the while, we never give up on the promises or dreams the Lord places in our hearts. Instead, we wait on God to bring them to completion while unleashing heaven where the Lord has us now. The waiting burns the vision even deeper in our hearts as we dare to dream despite everything. We dream big dreams and write the vision and make it plain. We dare to hope despite all odds; but humbly sit and wait on the Lord.

“…In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble. If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, He will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in His hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you. Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for his prey to devour. Take a stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same troubles you endure. And the, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in His personal eternal glory in Christ,, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger then ever. Yes, He will set you firmly in a place and build you up. And He has all the power needed to do this forever! Amen” ( 1 Peter 5:5-11).

The key is staying focused on the King, the God of hosts who fights for us. I am realizing it is okay to be weak and to not have it all together. Why; because day by day we need to be dependent upon the Father. We must stay focused on Him on who He is. We must remember the victories and the things He has done in our lives. We must trust His process and Trust His timing. Beloved, know He working things for our good. “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We need to put out all other voices and focus on the Father. His ways and thoughts are higher then ours.

Beloved, stay focused on Jesus and stay focused on His voice. Know that no matter what we face even if the world seems to be ending that we can breathe and be still. We can rest and know that He is God and He is good. The hebrew word for be still is -raphah- it “means properly to cast down; to let fall; to let hang down; then to be relaxed, to be weak, to let go, to release.” Another translation I read said it meant to cease from striving, “cause yourselves to let go” or “let yourselves become weak”- “the place of the dead.”

In my journey, I am learning that it is okay to be weak. It is okay to not have it together; because in that place we are free to cast all our cares and worries on the Father. We are free to curl up in His lap and release everything to Him. We are able to quiet ourselves before Him and listen to what He says about us. We are able to be at peace knowing the Father’s heart towards us and realize no one else’s opinion really matters. All other voices are drowned out. We breathe and let go, knowing that even if the world as we knew it ended that we can be at peace; because, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…”