Every Battle

“Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth.”  Jeremiah 50:34 (ESV)

Let’s take another lesson from the Old Testament again this week. This is about battles in our everyday lives. We’ll start in Zechariah 4.

Life can sometimes feel like one long battle after another. 

There are the obvious ones: the diagnosis you never expected. The financial stress that keeps you up at night. The relationship you don’t know how to fix. 

Then there are the silent battles we face every day: anxiety, temptation, discouragement, loneliness, fear of what tomorrow will bring, heaviness of responsibility we feel we can’t bear.

Most of us face these battles the same way. We grit our teeth and dig in. We work harder. We try to be stronger. We fight as if survival depends on us winning this battle. We tell ourselves if we just try hard enough. If we could just figure this out. If we could just DO more.

God teaches us a Different Way

When Zechariah was given a vision from the Lord, the people of Israel were in the middle of a battle they could not win on their own. The Israelites had returned from exile. They had been given permission to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. But how could they do it? They didn’t have the resources. There was great opposition. And the mountain in front of them looked too big to climb.

Yet God said to them: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

Notice what God didn’t say.

He didn’t promise them they would be stronger. He didn’t tell them to work harder. He didn’t give them a better plan or more soldiers. Instead, God reminded them that the battle would be won BY HIS SPIRIT.

As a reminder, God asked them, “What are you, O great mountain?” (Zechariah 4:7). To human eyes, that mountain was huge. To God, it was already defeated. How easily we forget that truth.

Remembering in Moments That Matter

David remembered it when he looked at Goliath. The battle was already won in God’s eyes. There was nothing too big for God to use David to defeat. That’s why David could confidently declare to the Philistine, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).

King Jehoshaphat remembered it when he heard the news of mighty armies coming against Judah. He cried out to God and God told the people, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Centuries later, Paul would write to believers and remind them that our battle is not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12). God has provided us with spiritual weapons that surpass human understanding or power.

The Best Example

Jesus Himself is the best example.

When Jesus went to the cross, it surely did not look like He was winning the battle. He looked defeated. He was defeated… by choice. The religious leaders celebrated. Rome thought they were in control. Satan was delighted – he thought he had won the victory.

But God was battling for a different Kingdom. A kingdom this world would never understand.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, sin has been defeated. Death has been conquered. Salvation has been secured for all who believe.

Weakness became the power of God displayed for all the world to see.

That Same Spirit Lives Within All of Us

Yes, your battle is very real. The mountain before you may be huge. You may face opposition at every turn.

But the same God who enabled Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple, empowered David to defeat Goliath, delivered Jehoshaphat from destruction, and raised Jesus from the dead is WITH you, FOR you, and has NOT changed.

Sometimes He will move the mountain. Sometimes He will bring you through it. Sometimes He will use your battle to mold you into the likeness of Christ. But what He will never ask you to do is trust in your own strength to win that battle.

God created you to live the Christian life BY HIS SPIRIT.

Not by might. Not by power. But by the Spirit of God. So take heart this week. No matter what battle you are facing. You’re not alone in that battle. It doesn’t ultimately depend on you. Trust His power. Rest in His promises. And remember that NOTHING can stand against the LORD!

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You that we do not have to depend on own own strength to fight life’s battles. 

Thank You that we serve a God who does not lose battles.

For the times that we try to figure things out in our own strength.

For the moments we question if life is too hard for God. 

Please forgive us. Remind us to trust Your Spirit. Your promises. Your presence. 

Thank You that no mountain is too big for You. No battle too great. 

Strengthen our faith for this week and remind us to take every moment, every circumstance to the foot of the cross. 

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen

May God continuously lead your path