It is not even accorded the status of a full verse, but to me Zechariah 4:6b is one of those profound expressions of faith we do well to reflect on frequently: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” No matter how strong we are in human terms, no matter how well-established or influential we may be, it is only by God’s grace that our efforts come to fruition. But assuming that to be true, this must also be the case that no matter how weak we are in human terms, no matter now poor or poorly-regarded, no matter how humble our presence, God’s grace is still at work in our lives.
The psalmist offers a similar thought: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain” (Psalm 127:1). But here, too, we should remember the other side of the equation, for with God’s help the builders do not labor in vain and the guards do not keep watch in vain, no matter who they are in human terms. After all, the world is littered with the debris of once-great civilizations, yet human history is full of simple actions by the least among us that have produced good fruit and touched countless lives.
What we await this Advent season is not a symbol of human power but of human weakness in the form of an infant. So why do we count on our own might or our own power to accomplish God’s will, and why do we discount the role of the poor or the weak in serving the coming kingdom? At all times the truth lies with God. There is no other way.
Prayer: Lord God, help us to trust you and your will for our lives while letting go of our own desire for power and might. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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