Lately, I’ve been talking to so many people who have the same question. What do I do when I feel totally overwhelmed with all life is throwing at me? These are not spiritual wimps either. These individuals are strong, Spirit-filled, praying Christians, pursuing God and looking to His Word. These are people who know the answer is always the Word, so telling them just that really isn’t what they need. So, I asked God to give me some specific help about how to answer. Of course, I don’t have all of the answers, because I’m as imperfect as the person next to me, but I do think God has given me a few pointers for those of you who may be feeling like you’re carrying impossible burdens right now. Your burdens may be an overwhelming work load, where you feel there is no way you can meet every deadline or expectation, and it seems like it’s only compounding, with no end in sight. You may feel like not only is the load unbearable, but you don’t have the wisdom you need to accomplish what you need to accomplish. Your burden may come from health challenges – even though you know God is the Healer. Perhaps, financial needs seem insurmountable. Perhaps relationship issues seem unfixable.
First, let’s establish the fact that God is with you. He has not forsaken you and never will. He is not the one causing the things oppressing you; nor is he trying to teach you a lesson by bringing these overwhelming situations into your life. Things are going to get better, even if you can’t see that right now.
Anyway, I was talking to God about real help for these “overwhelming, seemingly impossible, my-back-is-up-against-a-wall, I-can’t-seem-to-get-any-answers, time-is-running-short, what-am-I-supposed-to-do” type situations, and God gave me three specific guideposts. I’ll only have time and space to talk about one of them this week. He said, “Go to Zechariah.” I thought, “Whoa, Lord. I’m no Zechariah authority. Where am I supposed to go in Zechariah?” He said, “Chapter 4.” So, away I went to Chapter 4, and lo’ and behold, guess what I found? In Zechariah 4:6 is that wonderful verse, of which I am sure we are all familiar, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” “Eureka!” I thought. That’s the first thing we need to do when we feel like we have done all we can do; we’ve searched out every solution; we’ve prayed and committed our situation to God; we’ve sought wise counsel. . .and fear keeps trying to take hold, because we have come to the end of feeling we have the ability to cope. Rely on the Holy Spirit! He is ever talking to us, showing us the way! He is our Superhero Who never loses!
Now, I realize the book of Zechariah was written about the Israelites, who had suffered Babylonian captivity because of their hard-heartedness, disobedience, and repetitive failure to do things God’s way, BUT God did not forsake them! He brought them out, and He will bring you out also. There are lots of truths we can learn from this Book. God uses the example of Zerubbabel rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem to speak to us. The Israelites were greatly opposed during this process; they were ridiculed and threatened by their enemies. This is exactly how we feel when we are feeling overwhelmed. Look in Chapter 2, verses 5 and 7-10, especially verse 8. God says, “And I [M]yself will be a wall of fire around it (Jerusalem). . . .Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Zion. . .for whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye (v. 8) – I will surely raise [M]y hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. . . .Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you.” I know you often feel that your burdens are your enemies, and maybe even you feel as though your burdens are caused by your “enemies,” but, you see, God has you in the palm of His hand, and how much better is our covenant than that which the Israelites had. The Holy Spirit is our Firewall (v.5), our protection, our help. He may have lived “among” the Israelites, but He lives “in” us. We are the apple of God’s eye, and we are not fighting these struggles alone. In Zechariah 3:1-2, God gives us the picture of Satan standing and accusing High Priest Joshua. The Lord rebuked Satan! He will do the same for you! The key God is showing us here is to walk in the Spirit, not to rely on our worldly wisdom or our own abilities. So many issues in life are beyond what we can humanly handle or understand (actually, we shouldn’t try to do anything only in our natural abilities), and when we are at that point in a life-circumstance, we need to take our hands off of the situation, and trust the Holy Spirit to show us the way. That is so hard to do when we feel like we need to FIX the mess we are in, especially if it is a mess we feel we have caused. If you really think about it, there is at least some small element of you messing up in every mess you are in, because no one is perfect. It doesn’t matter if you caused it. Turn it over to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. God tells us in James 1:5 that if any person asks for wisdom, God gives it, and upbraideth (or chastises) him not! In fact, in the NIV, it says that He gives generously without finding fault! That means, God isn’t trying to blame you for your mistakes, when you go to Him for help.
Then in Zechariah Chapter 3, verses 3-5, the Angel of the Lord (a reference to Jesus) tells Joshua to take off His filthy rags to have rich garments placed upon him. I know this commonly refers to the removal of our sin by the redemption of Christ, but let’s look at it in more depth. To me, this also refers to God giving us the Anointing of the Holy Spirit! Think back to Chapter 2, verse 5, where God said He Himself is our Firewall. Then think to Chapter 4 verse 6, which God gave as the capstone for this blog. “By my Spirit says the Lord.” God is giving us a very clear message. His Spirit in you makes you more powerful than you think! When you let the Holy Spirit do the work for you, He will guide you into all truth and every answer you need in every situation. You receive access into the very presence of God, and every problem is solved there. God has “reclothed” you in His Holy Spirit!
In Chapter 4, verse 7, God tells us, “What are you, O’ mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.” Thanks, God!!! You will make my mountains into level ground. You will show me the way out, and be my victory. My mountains, in fact, are not mountains, but level ground! I believe it! You are mightier, by Your Holy Spirit, than any source of opposition I face! Think of the opposition and the seeming impossibility of the task of rebuilding the wall that the Israelites faced, and yet God was at their side, making their way straight. He conquered every obstacle and every foe on their behalf, and He will do the same for you. You see, not only will God give you the wisdom you need, He will work miracles on your behalf. He made the sun stand still for Joshua (Joshua 10:11-13). He will open or close supernatural doors for you; He will turn darkness into light, allow you to walk on the water of your troubles; He will do what needs to be done, even miraculously on your behalf, because you walk in His favor. The battle is not yours, but His (2 Chron. 20:15). His answers are Supernatural. The battle is won in the Spirit!
Talk to the Holy Spirit, pray in the Spirit; let Him show you golden nuggets in the Word. He will give you supernatural answers that you can’t think of on your own. Just like He told me where to go in the Bible this week, to a Book of which I am no authority, to a verse I know, but didn’t know where it was, and hadn’t thought of on my own. He just said, “Go to Zechariah the fourth Chapter,” and there was insight. There was revelation and a Rhema Word; then He just directed me to study more, and He gave us help. He is no respecter of persons. He does the same for everyone who calls on Him!
Next week we’ll discuss the other pointers the Lord is speaking to us. Have a blessed week in the Holy Spirit!
He is your Holy Spirit Firewall, Protector and Provider of all the help you need!
Pastor Lisa Marie
If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life and desire to, pray this: Dear God, I believe that Jesus is your Son, that He died on the cross for me and was resurrected for my redemption. I choose to make Jesus the Lord of my life. I thank you for forgiving me and for filling me with Your Holy Spirit. I thank You that I am Your child, that You are my Father, and that You have great things planned for me. Amen.