Raw and Real -Day 125 Month 5-5 Week 18-6

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Deuteronomy 6:1-7:26, Psalm 102, Jeremiah 15:15-21, John 1:35-51

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206%3A1-7%3A26%2C%20Psalm%20102%2C%20Jeremiah%2015%3A15-21%2C%20John%201%3A35-51&version=NASB1995


Raw and Real


God can take it!  When it seems the world is against you and you are angry at Him.


There have been times in my life when I’ve been so low that I’ve been upset with God.  I remember one time, before I even knew Sylvia, as I lay on my bed in a pit of despair, I asked God why is this happening to me?  I didn’t feel loved, I felt like I was being picked on at work and I wasn’t sure what all this was about.


Jeremiah is feeling that in our reading today.  Jeremiah wants God to “take vengeance for me on my persecutors.”  He tells God that he’s being mistreated “for Your sake.”  He tells God he took in God’s words and they were a “joy and delight of my heart.” because he was “called by Your name.”  Jeremiah is lonely, mistreated and in great pain from isolation.  Then he questions God about God’s motives and was God’s direction deceptive and unreliable.  That’s a pretty strong accusation!


God can take it but be ready because when God responds, He speaks truth.


God’s response to Jeremiah:  repent or turn back to Him.  I suspect Jeremiah has wallowed in this despair for a while and probably in his heart is doing the “why me” question a lot.  This has taken his focus away from God.  So God says turn back to Me.  This is followed by the promise “then I will restore you - Before Me you will stand,” “You (Jeremiah) will become My spokesman.”  God gives a warning that they “may turn to you” but “you must not turn to them.” He’s telling Jeremiah to follow Me (God) regardless whether the people listen to you or not.  God’s continued promise is that He will protect Jeremiah.


When I was struggling in my pit of despair, I was angry and frustrated with God and with people but I wasn’t ready to listen.  That took some time, but what God did send me was a phone call, or it may have been an email….it’s been like 30 years.  It was my sister.  She quoted from Isaiah 40.  “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?  Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?  It is He who sits above the circle of the earth…”  She finished off with “Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”  Through my sister that day, God spoke the truth that God is a big God and He wants me to wait and I will be renewed.  I was.  


If you are struggling in your life, remember God can take your frustration or anger with Him.  His response will be loving but He will point out where you need to change.


Have a great day

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com 


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