ZECHARIAH 12:4

“‘On that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with insanity. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.’”

There have been times, as hard as I try, I just can’t accomplish something. I give it my best efforts. I am fully prepared, but I just can’t get it done. When that happens, I have learned to stop and look at what I am trying to do. Is it in the Father’s will? Is this of my own doing? Almost every time I discover I have been trying to do something I have no business trying to do. It is not God’s plan for me, at least not at that time.

The prophecy of chapter 12 continues in verse 4 with the Lord declaring victory over the armies that will assail Israel. He will confuse their horses and riders, even to the point of striking the horses blind. Most scholars point towards the battle of Gog and Magog, in which Israel will be defended by the Lord against all the nations that will come against her. They were trying to do something that God would not allow. What a promise!

APPLICATION

What are you banging your head against right now? Perhaps you are considering a move, but you cannot get a peace about it. Maybe it’s a job change, but try as you might, nothing happens. It could be a relationship that needs healing. You’ve tried all your “magic,” but nothing works. It could be that now is not the time for this. For some reason, God is blocking or just not allowing it to happen.

Psalm 46:10 comes to mind. “‘Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.’” I love this translation. Some say, “Be still,” but I like “Stop striving.” The Hebrew word has the picture of relaxing, of sinking into a relaxed position. Wow! That sure gives you a great visual, doesn’t it?

When is the last time you did that? Have you truly rested in God’s decisions for your life? He wants you to place yourself completely at His mercy. He is holding you in His hands. Stop trying to achieve something that you have no business trying to achieve. Just like those riders and horses that were stopped cold in their tracks, God can stop you also. But when you trust Him and allow Him to direct you, things are so much more relaxing.

O Father, I have been struggling against Your will on some things. Forgive me and show me how to rest in You.