For years the Lord used a devotional to speak to me and I would like to share it with you. Its from Daylight Devotional Bible, by Zondervan Publishers. Its called "Are You There Lord?" Lord, its me again, You know, I hate to keep harping on this, but I'm starting to panic. These people are getting nastier and nastier - I know you're aware of that. You see, I'm getting this feeling that my time is running out - and you seem to be majoring in patience right now. Don't you think maybe you could hurry it up a little bit and take care of my persecutors once and for all?
Okay, and Lord, you know this work you called me to do - well its a great work and everything, and I've given it my all. But its awfully lonely, I've never been able to get married and I don't have very many friends. And it wouldn't be so bad, but all the sin, all the violence and cruelty, all the complacency and arrogance and hyprocrisy, all the mocking and cursing, it hurts so bad. You see I care about these people, I want them to turn to you and rest in your love. But they won't listen, they just won't listen. My pain won't end, my wound won't close, my heart bleeds - and doesn't stop. I thought I could depend on you Lord. You've deceived me, you promised but you haven't delivered.
Jeremiah, I understand your fear, your lonliness, your hurt, your anger - you must confess it and get on with it. You must not wallow in it, for it will DESTROY YOU. You've got to turn away from it and put your eyes on me again - AND I WILL RESTORE YOU.
For many years during my trials The Lord used this devotion to uplift me, from my understanding He is telling me to rise above my feelings and emotions, to trust Him to work things out for best in my life, not to depend on people around me, not to dwell on the past, I have gone thru many deep waters, but the Lord was beside me all the time, and He has promised to restore me. Dwelling on our problems does not help any, it will not solve anything. The Lord wants me to trust in Him alone, He has never let me rely on man for anything. I was put in situations where there was no one but the Lord to lean on and that was beneficial for me, but at the time I did not like it at all and cried out to God over and over. Now I can look back and see why God allowed me to be in those situations. The Lord has provided for me and taken care of me even in the death of my husband, He gave me this scripture for years, Jeremiah 33 6 "Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it. I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." I believe God is bringing this to pass in my life now, He is a God of his word, He is faithful to his promises. He does not want me to dwell on my failures, or live in regret, we all make mistakes but we can confess our sins to God and He will forgive us, his mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3.22 "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness." I have had to start all over many times, surrender over and over, I may have to do that daily for the rest of my life and I will do that if that is what it takes to stay close to God. I would not have it any other way. |
