Zechariah's vision spoke to Israel in his day, but listen—it speaks to us now! It shows us the Church of God as she truly is in this world. The Church is like a grove of myrtle trees flourishing in a valley. Hidden. Unnoticed. Tucked away from sight. She seeks no applause from the world, attracts no attention from those who pass by without caring. Like her Lord, the Church has a glory, but it's concealed from carnal eyes. Her time to break forth in full splendor has not yet come.

But see what else this image tells us: tranquil security! The myrtle grove in the valley stays calm and still while storms rage over the mountain peaks. Tempests exhaust themselves battering the Alpine heights, but down in the valley where the stream flows that makes glad the city of our God, the myrtles flourish by quiet waters. Untouched. Unshaken. Unmoved by the wild winds above.

How great is the inner tranquility of God's Church! Even when opposed, even when persecuted, she has a peace the world cannot give—and what the world cannot give, it cannot take away. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding guards the hearts and minds of his people.

And look—see what the myrtle teaches us about growth? She never sheds her leaves. Always green. Always alive. The Church in her darkest days still shows the blessed verdure of grace. In fact, she has often shown most verdure when her winter was sharpest. She has prospered most when her adversities were most severe.

That's why this image hints at victory. The myrtle is peace's emblem, triumph's token. Ancient conquerors wore crowns of myrtle and laurel. And isn't the Church ever victorious? Isn't every Christian more than a conqueror through him who loved us?

Living in peace, do we not fall asleep in the arms of victory?