“If you’ve ever had a dream detoured or delayed, you know how discouraging a dream deferred c an be. But it’s often when we’re just about to give up that God shows up.”- Mark Batterson
So [the angel] 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 Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ “- Zechariah 4:6-7 (NIV)
As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 7 of Double Blessing, he observes that we go through seasons of life where we’re unsure how to get to the other side of our issues. Perhaps we even doubt that another side exists! Sometimes, Pastor Batterson states, it’s a season of:
- transition – you lose your bearings, feel lost and lonely
- grieving – the compass needle spins as you reorient to a new normal
- life – like a midlife crisis
- depression – like Abraham Lincoln and Charles Spurgeon fought through
But Jesus, our High Priest, sympathizes with our weaknesses. When Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross, He flipped the curse by becoming the curse for us. As a result, the cross transformed into a universal symbol of love, hope, and forgiveness.
In 36 BC, a Jewish remnant returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Not long after they laid the foundation, the project came to a halt for fifteen years. When Zerubbabel resurrected the project, he faced overwhelming opposition.
However, Mark contends if you have little or no opposition, you might wind up maintaining the status quo. Consequently, you’ll make little impact. Certainly, opposition isn’t fun. Therefore, in the next blog Pastor Batterson shares three lessons he’s learned about opposition over the years.
Today’s question: When did God show up to help with your dream detoured? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The mountains we overcome”
