November 14th - Reflection

Zechariah 1:7-17 (NRSV)
God's judgment and mercy

On the twenty fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo; and Zechariah said, In the night I saw a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen; and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, "What are these, my lord?" The angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what they are." So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, "They are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth." Then they spoke to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace." Then the angel of the Lord said, "O Lord of hosts, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which you have been angry these seventy years?" Then the Lord replied with gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. So the angel who talked with me said to me, Proclaim this message: Thus says the Lord of hosts; I am very jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. And I am extremely angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they made the disaster worse. Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Proclaim further: Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.

Reflection
A night vision of some colored horses. People coming to protect God's people. Perhaps they were angels. Red of battles and bloodshed, white of victory and peace, and reddish brown of confusion in the aftermath. But a promise of prosperity from God. It's going to get better. It gets better when we trust in the Lord. Endure the battle, it will get better. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, sometimes life is a battle. We all deal with pain and illness and suffering. But as your children, we also live in the hope and joy that it will all get better. Stay the course and know that the battle has been won by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I will gladly endure the battle, it will get better, and you have great plans for me today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen