Red Light
Red light...
One of the hardest things for anyone to “conquer” is “waiting”. For the most part no one likes to wait, think about it. We sit a red light and seems like it will never change. We use the microwave, and as quickly as it can prepare something it still seems like it doesn’t happen fast enough. Now imagine you are waiting on something during a hard season of life, as if waiting wasn’t hard enough, and it feels like there is no way out or no help coming. In Lamentations 3:20-26 we read some powerful words from the prophet Jeremiah. Lamentations literally means grief, sorrow, or weeping, but it is also carrying the idea of a passionate weeping, so not just a tear, but “a river” of tears or sorrow. Jeremiah was devastated at the destruction Jerusalem, the sufferings of the people of Jerusalem, as well as the sins of the nation. So, you can see that the prophet didn’t just weep for no reason, there were multiple reasons. It probably seemed like there was no hope, and that maybe waiting on God was just pointless. In chapter 3 starting in verse 21 and thru 26 we see some very powerful words, words that were written to encourage those back then, and even today we can be encouraged by them. Yet the key is verse 21, he writes “this I recall to my mind”. In other words, he is reminding himself of something, he is taking something from the background of his mind and putting at the top of his mind, and because he does this, he has hope. What was it? What was it that maybe he had forgotten and had to remind himself of? Because of God’s mercies we are not consumed; His compassions never fail; His compassions are new every morning; He is faithful; He is our portion (referring to when God daily provided the manna in the wilderness); and finally, it is good to those who wait for God, to the one who seek Him (verses 22-26 Jeremiah 3). We also read in Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” What I want to encourage you with is found in the word “rest”. This word, rest, in Psalm 37 carries this meaning in the Hebrew; to cease from work, stand still, wait in silence AND to calmly resign and leave all things in the hands of God. While it isn’t easy to wait, especially in seasons of great weeping, the best thing we can do is simply remind ourselves that God is faithful, His compassions never fail, and to stand still (meaning not worry or being anxious about something). Finally, something we try to teach little ones, calmy leave things in His hands and trust that He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Much love, Pastor Michael
One of the hardest things for anyone to “conquer” is “waiting”. For the most part no one likes to wait, think about it. We sit a red light and seems like it will never change. We use the microwave, and as quickly as it can prepare something it still seems like it doesn’t happen fast enough. Now imagine you are waiting on something during a hard season of life, as if waiting wasn’t hard enough, and it feels like there is no way out or no help coming. In Lamentations 3:20-26 we read some powerful words from the prophet Jeremiah. Lamentations literally means grief, sorrow, or weeping, but it is also carrying the idea of a passionate weeping, so not just a tear, but “a river” of tears or sorrow. Jeremiah was devastated at the destruction Jerusalem, the sufferings of the people of Jerusalem, as well as the sins of the nation. So, you can see that the prophet didn’t just weep for no reason, there were multiple reasons. It probably seemed like there was no hope, and that maybe waiting on God was just pointless. In chapter 3 starting in verse 21 and thru 26 we see some very powerful words, words that were written to encourage those back then, and even today we can be encouraged by them. Yet the key is verse 21, he writes “this I recall to my mind”. In other words, he is reminding himself of something, he is taking something from the background of his mind and putting at the top of his mind, and because he does this, he has hope. What was it? What was it that maybe he had forgotten and had to remind himself of? Because of God’s mercies we are not consumed; His compassions never fail; His compassions are new every morning; He is faithful; He is our portion (referring to when God daily provided the manna in the wilderness); and finally, it is good to those who wait for God, to the one who seek Him (verses 22-26 Jeremiah 3). We also read in Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” What I want to encourage you with is found in the word “rest”. This word, rest, in Psalm 37 carries this meaning in the Hebrew; to cease from work, stand still, wait in silence AND to calmly resign and leave all things in the hands of God. While it isn’t easy to wait, especially in seasons of great weeping, the best thing we can do is simply remind ourselves that God is faithful, His compassions never fail, and to stand still (meaning not worry or being anxious about something). Finally, something we try to teach little ones, calmy leave things in His hands and trust that He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Much love, Pastor Michael
Recent
Archive
2024
2023
December
2022
2021
August
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments