We’ve been under a lot of attack here lately. Satan seems bent on destroying us (duh) and driving me to break chairs. I’m really mad at him.
He’s messing with relationships. He’s making mountains out of molehills. He’s trying to convince God’s people that it’s so hopeless that they should take their own life. I watch as things seem to fall apart around me…
So I go down to the woods.
There is a huge cross down there built for a very special girl who needs to lay down her struggles on a regular basis (just like the rest of us, but she shows outwardly what is really going on inside of us all; but she is more honest)
Next to the cross is a natural spring—a trickling little brook that is sure and strong most of the year, but every fall it seems to stop and dry up. The water tables fall and all that is left is mud interspersed with dry cracks. I felt that way a few days ago.
Jeremiah intercedes for his people in one of my favorite books, chapters 14&15. He asks God, “Why have you wounded us past all hope of healing? We hoped for peace, but no peace came.” 1
Then God rants. (I think He threw a chair) He’s done. “You have abandoned Me and turned your back on Me…Therefore I will raise my fist to destroy you. I am tired of always giving you another chance…” 2
Then Jeremiah speaks for himself. “I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose nor a borrower who refuses to pay—yet they all curse me.”
Then God replies, “I will take care of you, Jeremiah.” 3
Jeremiah says, “Lord, You know what is happening to me…Please step in and help me…Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry…” (hmmm)
God says, “If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman…They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 4
Another version of that says, “If you return(and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair)then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be my minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile(cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness), you shall be my mouthpiece…
“…And I will deliver you… and I will redeem you…” 5
My favorite part is the last—-“ I , the Lord, have spoken!”
Hey! He’s talking to us! In conversation! The One Who created the universe!
Am I listening?
It’s gonna be okay. Really. Ever need someone to just hold you and tell you that? I do.
But I couldn’t forget the “If you return …” part.
That’s why there is a cross in the woods.
Sometimes we just need to get up, walk down there, and drop. Come join me.
Don’t worry—I sprayed the poison ivy.:)
1 Jeremiah 14:19 2 “ 15:6 3 “ 15:10-11 4 “ 15:15-20 5 “ 15:21
Gaye,
Those moments that it seems that God has forsaken us are so overwhelming. It’s so easy to get angry at God for not answering our prayers the way we believe they should be answered (I’ve just gone through this struggle in losing my mom). And, yet, when we “return to Him” and offer our honest, real self – all of the disappointment we feel and uncertainty we face, somehow, majestically, He draws us deeper to Him. We pray fervently for blessings on Stormhaven, you and Mike and all of the animal family God has entrusted you with. We know firsthand the healing that happens there. Stand still and let God move! Love you!
love… we have learned so much in the past year and are continuing to learn on a daily basis. so much room to grow, but also nice to see the lessons we have learned. love you…
The last few years have been a time of learning for us too. Learning what it means to have faith. Learning what it means to find hope, even when things seem hopeless. I’ve also been reading Jeremiah recently as part of my devotions. The most famous verse Jeremiah 29:11 has come to new light for me lately. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse has become so common place – often found on greeting cards and clique encouragements. Still, it’s message is amazing. It helps us make the best of difficult situations. It calls us to look ahead in confident expectation (have hope), when we feel tempted to give up. When we feel overlooked, forgotten, mistreated…Satan’s goal is to get us to throw in the towel and call it quits. Discouragement is his favorite weapon. But what I’ve realized of late is that while disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. If we yield to Satan’s offering of doubt and fear, we find ourselves discouraged. If you’re like me it is very hard to resist discouragement when in an emotionally or physically difficult spot. But in these times, I try to remember my life verse Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others. The very trials
that test our faith most severely and make it seem that God has
forsaken us, are to lead us closer to Christ, that we may lay all our
burdens at His feet and experience the peace which He will give us in
exchange. We may not be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but God will
see us through to a glorious conclusion.
And by the way, I think it’s okay to break a few chairs while on your way to kneel at the cross. Love you!