The Secret to Hope in Hardship

Jeremiah discovered throughout his life that seeking the Lord was the best thing one could do with one's life. In seeking God, you find hope in the midst of despair, you find forgiveness in the midst of sin, you find joy on the other side of trouble. God is pleased to give to those who seek Him these marvelous realities. 

Jeremiah 33:2–3 (ESV) “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Engaging in prayer opens up new discoveries and insights in our lives and future, leading to personal growth and understanding. We especially need this when disaster seems to abound around us just as it did with Judah in the days of Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah 33:4–5 (ESV) For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword: 5 They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil.

What was hidden in this situation? That despite the terror about to surround them, God would ultimately heal them. It's hard to see hope in hardship. But prayer gives those who seek the Lord a spiritual vision so that they might know the disaster is only a detour through which God will ultimately bring them to a glorious destination. 

Jeremiah 33:6–9 (ESV) Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. 9 And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

Talk about turnabout! The enormity of God's promises for good and not for evil is on full display in this chapter. Not only will the city be restored but all nations will rejoice as well. 

God will turn the deserted places into thriving metropolises. 
Jeremiah 33:10–11 (ESV) “Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again 11 the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: “ ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.

Jeremiah speaks not only of the restoration of the city. He details the messianic arrival of Christ, the son of David.
Jeremiah 33:14–16 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

What Jeremiah speaks of here has only partially come to pass. A new Israel sprang up through the Apostles, 12 men chosen by the Lord to bring salvation to the nation. Through this group, the gentiles are being saved until the time appointed by the Father for Jesus to accomplish the ultimate work of redemption, bringing all Israel into the fold and returning to reign in glory with His people. 

It's hard to see these realities in the world we presently experience. Wars and rumors of wars abound, pestilence spreads and violence seems to be the order of our streets. Only prayer and the promises of God's prophets give us the spiritual vision to see beyond the mess and embrace the hope of the ages in Him.

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