Hope from Jeremiah

 I just finished reading through Jeremiah!  Hooray! It took me several weeks to read through it and man was it heavy!  What a depressing life poor Jeremiah had!  I mean, I know it was a great privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of proclaiming God's words to the people of Judah, but let's me honest - his life kinda stunk!  Reading it was really difficult at times.  Besides having moments that were less than exciting, reading about the impending doom of God's chosen people due to their blatant rebellion against Him was pretty discouraging at times!

That being said, if you are familiar with God's Word and the history of mankind, then you know that there is always hope!  God never completely forsakes or abandons his children.  Although at times we must reap the consequences of our sin, there is always grace for those who repent!  God's love has no end and He always welcomes those who come to Him with a heart seeking His forgiveness and desiring to live in righteousness!

As I was studying this book, I came to the following two passages and they so blessed my heart!  I found myself in tears as I was reminded again of God's grace, not only for me but also for those I love who have turned away from Him.  I found myself praying through these verses on behalf of a few particular loved ones and I intend to continue to do so because I know that there is always hope!

Thus says the Lord:
"A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”
Thus says the Lord:

“Refrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
There is hope in your future, says the Lord,
That your children shall come back to their own border.

“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself:
‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained bull;
Restore me, and I will return,
For You are the Lord my God.
Surely, after my turning, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh;
I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated,
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’
Is Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a pleasant child?
For though I spoke against him,
I earnestly remember him still;
Therefore My heart yearns for him;
I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord."
Jeremiah 31:15-20 NKJV

"Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’"
Jeremiah 32:37-41 NKJV