August 15
August 15
You can’t base your understanding of God and what he is doing on your own interpretation of your circumstances. No, it’s your knowledge of who God is and what he does that allows you to understand your circumstances properly.
As the world watches the travails of the people of God, people will mock us. They will ask, “Where is your God now? Why does he let these horrible things happen? Why does he allow bad things to happen to good people? Can’t you see that he’s turned his back on you, or don’t you see that he simply doesn’t exist?” The subtle (or not-so-subtle) mockery of the world is hard enough, but, since God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not like our thoughts, even God himself often leaves us confused and wondering. Sometimes we think he doesn’t hear us. It doesn’t always feel as though he is near. Sometimes it’s hard to hold on to the truth that he cares for us. It’s tempting, in these moments, to allow ourselves to listen to the voices of those who question not only God’s goodness but the very fact of his existence.
As God was disciplining his children for their sin during the time of Jeremiah, it seemed as though he had forsaken them. It was unthinkable that Jerusalem would be devastated and even more unthinkable that the temple would be destroyed. It must have been horrible for families to be ripped apart, forced out of their homes, and taken as captives by enemy forces. Would the children of God end up once again as slaves in a foreign land? Where was God? What happened to the exercise of his power on behalf of his people? Had he turned his back on his covenant promises? Had he abandoned the people whom he had chosen as his own? What would come of his eternal covenantal plan?
In the moments when you are flooded with questions, confusion, and doubt, you are susceptible to listening to those who neither know nor believe in God. Such was the case in Jeremiah’s time, so God spoke to his children with words of remembrance and grace:
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.” (Jer. 33:23–26)
The nations around Israel were saying, “Why don’t you give up and quit believing? It’s clear that God has rejected you.” But God says, “Don’t listen to them. My promises to you are as secure as the natural order.”
Your faith may not be respected by the culture around you, but don’t give in to hopelessness or doubt. God’s promises to you are as secure as the earth beneath your feet.