Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you..

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Read

Jeremiah 30:1-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. For the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors and they shall take possession of it.
These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:

Thus says the Lord:
We have heard a cry of panic,
of terror, and no peace.

Ask now, and see,
can a man bear a child?
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor?
Why has every face turned pale?

Alas! that day is so great
there is none like it;
it is a time of distress for Jacob;
yet he shall be rescued from it.
On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will break the yoke from off his neck, and I will burst his bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him. But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, says the Lord,
and do not be dismayed, O Israel;
for I am going to save you from far away,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
and no one shall make him afraid.

For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you;
I will make an end of all the nations
among which I scattered you,
but of you I will not make an end.
I will chastise you in just measure,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

For thus says the Lord:
Your hurt is incurable,
your wound is grievous.

There is no one to uphold your cause,
no medicine for your wound,
no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you;
for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy,
the punishment of a merciless foe,
because your guilt is great,
because your sins are so numerous.

Why do you cry out over your hurt?
Your pain is incurable.
Because your guilt is great,
because your sins are so numerous,
I have done these things to you.

Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured,
and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity;
those who plunder you shall be plundered,
and all who prey on you I will make a prey.

For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,
says the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast:
“It is Zion; no one cares for her!”

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Reflect

So, there is Israel, a nation overtaken by the Babylonians. Their lives have been destroyed by their enemies. So many folks have lost loved ones. They have been beaten and battered and have been left in ruins. Their nation was basically collapsing under the Babylonian onslaught. There was nowhere to turn. All hope was gone.

God seemed to say, “Not so fast!” Because God had a word and decided to speak that word through Jeremiah. It was a word of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. God says that God will restore the fortunes of God’s people. God will turn their lives around. God has heard the cry of panic, of terror, and of no peace from God’s people. Yet, God will rescue God’s people from their distress.

We, too, face times of great terror and panic and no peace – times when we feel like we have no one to turn to, no one to trust, no one to hear our cries. Yet, through Jesus, we have a God who enters into our hopeless situations and cries with us – loving us all the way. Even more, we as the Body of Christ base our faith on the resurrection of Jesus. Which means that in times of heartache, pain, loss, and even death, we persevere. We hold on to God’s promises – that God will never leave nor forsake us – that we have a future through our resurrected Savior. So, hold on, children of God! God will restore our health. God will heal our wounds. That’s a promise! Thanks be to God!

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Pray

O God, thank for the hope that you give us through your Son, Jesus. Help us to hold on to your promises and to know that you are God and you are with us through everything. Inspire us to live out our faith in all circumstances. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Go with God!