We are going through some unprecedented times, in the wake of all the uncertainty. Jeremiah, the prophet, was also undergoing some unprecedented difficult times. He wrote “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, He has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.” (Lamentations 3:1-3)
Jeremiah was discouraged and depressed. Jerusalem was under siege. His nation under total duress. His world had just collapsed around him. Whatever had been “normal” was no longer normal. A powerful enemy overshadowed all of life and filled every heart with fear. And Jeremiah was supposed to lead, supposed to be the example, the voice of God… and he actually found himself angry with God. His body ached. His heart was sick. His faith was tiny… getting tinier.
Jeremiah even felt trapped. “He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help He shuts out my prayer. He has barred my way with blocks of stone; He has made my paths crooked.” (Lamentations 3:7-9)
Jeremiah was sinking. His faith was sinking. So he stopped looking at all the trouble. He shifted his gaze. “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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 say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’” Lamentations 3:21-24
Feed your fears, and your faith will starve.
Feed your faith, and your fears will starve.
Down as he was, Jeremiah stopped looking at all the things causing his world to be upside down and shifted his gaze, his thoughts, his attention somewhere else.
He turned his eyes away from the mess his world was in and looked into the wonder of God. He remembered God’s Word. He remembered God’s promises… He maybe even counted them out on his fingers…
Because of the Lord’s great love, we aren’t consumed! His compassion never fails. His mercies are new every morning.
The trouble Jeremiah was in didn’t cease. But his discouragement did. The troubles and uncertainty in our own world aren’t going to stop today or tomorrow. But our fears can. Our worries can. Our discouragement can. Our anger can. Our hopelessness can. When we shift our focus away from the troubles and on to our never failing, always compassionate, always loving, always faithful GOD. He is with us. Let Him feed your faith every day!