When You Feel Like Nothing Is Working
Adapted from Healing the Soul of a Woman
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.”
There are times when our soul is in so much pain that we will try anything to feel better. We will read books, attend conferences or seminars, seek counseling, ask for advice from trusted friends, and pursue other things we think will help us. And then we reach the point where we have to admit that nothing is working. We are using a lot of energy, but we are not getting the results we hope for. I can write about this because I have done it, and perhaps you have, too.
I finally realized that many times I was trying to “fix” myself or solve my own problems alone, in my own strength. I was relying on myself and on my own efforts instead of trusting God completely to do what needed to be done. We do have a responsibility to do what we can do and what God leads us to do, but many times we try to go beyond our God-given responsibility. Part of spiritual maturity is realizing that there are certain things only God can do. No amount of effort on our part will do any good, and we will only end up frustrated.
Zechariah 4:6 is the perfect verse we need to remember when we are wearing ourselves out trying to accomplish something only God can do. It is not by human might or power, but only by God’s Spirit that certain things will happen. Our job is to trust that He knows what to do and will do it at the right time. Our part is to believe God’s promises, and that’s why we are called “believers.”
Consider these three verses about the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in John 14:26, The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV) Paul writes in Romans 8:26, Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (ESV) Paul also writes in Acts 1:8, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. (ESV)
From these verses we learn that the Holy Spirit helps us, teaches us, ministers to us in our weakness, and prays to the Father for us. He also gives us power, so we know that He is very active in our lives! He is aware of everything we need, and He knows exactly how and when to provide it for us. If we will trust Him, we will see Him move on our behalf and do in our lives what we could never do for ourselves.
Prayer of the Day: Father, I choose to stop trying to fix myself in my own strength. Holy Spirit, help me, teach me, and do in me what only You can do, amen.
