Two-minute read.
Jeremiah, thought to have written Lamentations, wrote in the aftermath of Jerusalem’s destruction-a season of devastating loss, suffering, and unanswered “why” questions. Chapter three moves the book from deep anguish to fragile hope. Suffering feels like it will never end, but eventually, it does. God does allow grief in our lives, but compassion always follows. Pain happens in the larger story of restoration. The Lord doesn’t take pleasure in suffering. The Israelites’ poor choices over a long period caused Jerusalem’s destruction. God didn’t want that; His heart grieved for the decisions that caused them suffering. But free will allows us to choose which path we will follow, and God lets us go the way we want.
Poor choices teach us discipline. The Lord’s discipline, rooted in love, has purpose and restraint, never cruel or careless. Many of our “why” questions have answers related to our actions, not God’s. With age comes hindsight. Looking back on my life, I can easily see where my actions caused problems that I blamed on the Creator. For instance, when I followed worldly advice on my relationships, I got my heart broken repeatedly. Instead of following Biblical advice and obeying the Lord, I ignored Him, and I suffered.
But God did teach me from those mistakes when I turned to Him, and I began listening to His word. Like the Israelites caused Jerusalem’s destruction, I caused mine. The Lord allowed grief into my life and taught me from it. Would the Creator have preferred I didn’t make the choices I did? For sure. However, the All-Knowing knew I wouldn’t learn my lesson if He didn’t allow me to follow my free will. Decisions determine the outcome. Trusting feelings that lie will take us down the wrong path. But when we choose Jesus and begin doing things His way, we will please the Lord and receive His grace and mercy.
“We don’t sit close to each other anymore,” the farmer’s wife said to him, sitting next to the passenger window in the old pick-up with a bench seat.
“Huh?” the farmer replied.
“When we dated, I always sat right next to you when you drove. Remember?” she asked, not giving him time to answer. “Now you sit over there, and I sit over here.”
“I’m not the one who moved,” said the farmer, pointing out the obvious.
In our relationship with God, we blame him for moving when we did. The Lord doesn’t force His presence on anyone. As a gentleman, He never goes where He’s not invited. Thankfully, He intervenes and draws us back to Him, but not before we learn a few lessons along the way.
Journal Questions:
When have you felt distant from God?
How has God allowed you to grieve?
What lessons have you learned from your grief?
Application:
Thank God for patience.
