Readings for today: Jeremiah 33-37
“But I, the Lord, make the following promise: I have made a covenant governing the coming of day and night. I have established the fixed laws governing heaven and earth. Just as surely as I have done this, so surely will I never reject the descendants of Jacob. Nor will I ever refuse to choose one of my servant David’s descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, I will restore them and show mercy to them.” (Jeremiah 33:25-26 NET)
I needed these words today. Recently, I’ve been asked to carry some significant burdens for people I love. A friend from high school who lost his daughter tragically and unexpectedly. Another dear friend who received a potentially terminal diagnosis. A couple of young people I know well hospitalized with suicidal ideation. Several other young people I know and love who are struggling with their identities. So many I care about who are lost and wandering and desperately need the hope of the gospel. It’s overwhelming. For the first time in decades, all I wanted to do was pull the covers back over my head and take the day off.
Thankfully, I’ve been at this long enough to know hiding won’t help. Instead, I opened God’s Word and the above verses from Jeremiah literally jumped off the page. I immediately felt the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit reminding me I am simply seeing a snapshot of life, not the whole picture. He reminded me He is at work and He is faithful. As long as the sun rises and sets and laws governing the universe remain fixed, God will keep His covenant. He will never leave us. Never abandon us. Never refuse us. Never reject us. He loves us and He promises to restore us. This is good news to my friend who lost his daughter. Though she was not pursuing Christ, she was baptized. She believed. And she is with God. It’s good news for my friend who received a terminal diagnosis. He believes. In fact, He’s one of the strongest believers I know. He trusts God and he knows this life is not the end. There is no such thing as a “terminal diagnosis” when we know Jesus. It’s good news for the young people I know struggling with suicide. They can find hope again. Hope because they are not alone. God is with them in the hospital. He was with them through the 72 hour hold. He will remain with them every step of the way, fulfilling His promise to bring healing if they will turn to Him and accept help. It is good news for the other dear ones in my life struggling with their sexuality and identity. For they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Created by God. Shaped and fashioned by His hands in their mother’s wombs. And though they may have forgotten who they are for now, God never forgets and He is even now reaching out to them.
It’s good news for me. Good news for a broken man who is trying to follow Jesus. Good news for a man who isn’t strong enough to carry this load. God is with me. Christ indwells me. The Holy Spirit fills me. And as I turn to Him in my grief and heartbreak and pain, He will comfort. As long as the sun rises and sets. As long as there is morning and evening. As long as the universe endures. God is faithful. God will fulfill His covenant promises. I am not in this alone. Thanks be to Jesus.
Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 38-40, Psalms 74, 79