A Scripture was given to Jan and me by a prophet in 1996: I want to bless you with this promise of the Lord’s love for us that has been etched on our hearts:

“I myself will be a protective wall of fire surrounding you, and a radiant glory within you” (Zechariah 2:5).

This reminder of His strong and passionate love for His sons and daughters is all-inclusive. His glory-presence and protection is a truth regardless of what we feel or see or hear. It is a truth we must hold onto.

Through several visions to Zechariah, the Lord speaks to the remnant who had returned to Judah after a 70-year Babylonian captivity. It’s true, He hated the harm their forefathers had inflicted on each other. The law of sowing and reaping trouble and sorrow had been very real. But He won’t waste their sorrows.  

With assurance, He tells this remnant that His love is passionate and strong.  He calls them to turn back to Him. And He calls them to come out of their lethargy and complete the assignment before them—to build the Temple—a sanctuary of His presence. 

He reminds them that because of Babylon’s great cruelty against them, this enemy received a severe crushing from Cyrus from which they would never recover (see 1:3, 14-16). 

Listen to the Lord’s mercy and kindness to His people when the enemy overplays his hand: “Whoever touches you, touches the apple of My eye” (2:8-9). 

His intentions will always include honoring our free will. Yet, nothing will stop His plans, even while dealing with our ignorance, complacency, or rebellion. He has appointed times to intervene in human affairs. He is not too early or too late.

Though we tend to live as though there is distance between us, He calls us to turn back to Him. When we tend to get lethargic and give up, He reminds us:

“I myself will be a protective wall of fire surrounding you, and a radiant glory within you.”