Do I really know how to live in this promise from God to His beloved children? Have I come to grips with my utter powerlessness and the laying down of my will as Jesus did?
In the twelve step programs that have spread like fire across our nation in the last couple of decades, the third step is to turn one's life and one's will over to the care of God. The eleventh step then follows with: "to pray only for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out." Wow! The Gospel in a few short words!
The book of Zechariah was written about 520 B.C. after the exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. and found the temple and society in utter ruin. Zechariah, a responsible member of the priestly circles, emphasizes Jerusalem as the place of God's dwelling. The Spirit is seen in this book as "poured out" to accomplish impossible tasks. Through this writing the Lord uses His prophet to say that even though the beginnings are small, the Lord through His Spirit will see it through. What He has begun, He will complete!
Perhaps you have already begun to draw some strong parallels between situations in Zechariah's time and those of today: the decay we encounter in areas of our society and even in areas within our church. We are all too aware of the struggles within our own lives. How can we dispose ourselves to the Spirit and be readied for His timing and out pouring?
The first thing is to admit utter powerlessness over whatever the concern may be. Today there is a plethora of programs and self-help materials available. How many have tried plans the "should" have worked, just to be disappointed, learning that forcing solutions or trying to manipulate them, just doesn't work and leaves one exhausted.
Rather, the scriptures tell us in Phil.4:6 to have no anxiety about anything, to dismiss it when it arises. Rather, in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we are to let our requests be made known to God. If we do that, then God's peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Here we have a rod to measure ourselves by. If the peace is missing, then somehow we are not doing what He has asked us to do. Perhaps we do not know quite how in the situation at hand. So, we can begin with verse six again and ask the Spirit to instruct us so that we can live in the Word of God, united with His will for us. As we learn to live in the present and in His peace, then solutions to problems seem to come more easily. For sure, we are more able to hear and see them, and to receive the gifts that God desires to pour out.
Learning to wait on the Lord and His timing and plans is essential. Waiting upon and learning to recognize that movement of the Spirit within will surely develop Christian maturity. There are many tools available for us to use while we wait -- scripture, Eucharist, Confession, spiritual readings, spiritual direction, retreats, and gatherings of believers -- all bear their fruit in due season. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap... he who sews in the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in welldoing... as we have opportunity let us do good to all..." [Gal.6:7-10 RSV] Notice that the focus here is how we live in the present, the now! If we live in the future or the past we can miss what God is doing now. That is what He is: the God of the Now!
Patience is necessary in this process as well. "...rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us." [Rom.5:3-5 RSV]
In order to hope, one must be able to trust. There is no letting go or surrender if there is weak trust. I remember a story I heard a long time ago about hope. Each of the virtues in this allegory were personified as a child. About hope it said: "... and my little Hope is the one that goes to bed each night and sleeps." On this path we will surely learn to "become as little children" at least in the hands of a loving Master Potter.
If we see that we are exhibiting worry and anxiety, then let us again turn to the Lord's instructions in Phil. 4, and seek His healing touch to take away all that hinders us on the path to holiness. "... for it is... not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord!"
Printed in the August 1994 issue of the "Living Water." Published for the Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of San Jose, California. Permission to copy is granted, as long as proper credit is given.
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