Recently, archaeologist Eilat Mazar found fortifications that were built in Jerusalem some 3,000 years ago. She believes that they were constructed by Solomon, as described in the Old Testament. Her unearthed evidence strongly rebuts what secular scholars believe: “that David’s [and Solomon’s] monarchy was largely mythical and that there was no strong government to speak of in that era.” Eilat’s passionate digging and searching made for one amazing find!
In Lamentations 3, the author (believed to be the prophet Jeremiah) wrote of the importance of searching after something more important than ancient ruins. He wrote, “The Lord is good to . . . those who search for Him” (Lamentations 3:25). What’s so striking about this verse—and all of chapter 3—is that it’s an oasis of hope within a book of the Bible known for its misery and lament. Why did the prophet have hope? Because of God’s “faithful love” and the fact that “His mercies never cease” (Lamentations 3:22).
Keep in mind that Jeremiah had witnessed the heart-wrenching destruction of the city of Jerusalem. God’s people had been defeated, and many of them had been exiled to Babylon. Death and devastation followed them.
Even in that dark moment, Jeremiah chose to earnestly seek God and His compassionate heart (Lamentations 3:32). He wrote, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” (Lamentations 3:24). Hope. He still had it, even though everything else was gone—painfully torn from him and his people. Jeremiah chose to wait in silence before His faithful God (Lamentations 3:23,28). The prophet and his people had been disciplined by the Lord for their rebellion against Him, but Jeremiah knew they wouldn’t be “abandoned by [Him] forever” (Lamentations 3:31).
If you’re lacking hope today, search for God. His love and compassion will never fail you.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ezra 3:7-13
More:
Read Deuteronomy 28:45 to learn why God allowed His people to be defeated by the Babylonians. Verses 36 and 37 predicted exactly what took place later.
Next:
What happens when we choose not to seek God while we’re experiencing heartache and misery? What happens when we do search for Him?
agentleanswer on April 28, 2011 at 12:47 am
Tough to do… be still in silence and wait before our faithful Lord. Thank you for the reminder Tom…
tom felten on April 28, 2011 at 7:55 am
Kathy, it’s interesting how often Scripture provides contrasts. Our Creator and Sustainer says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). But He also spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:13-14). It’s so good to practice both these things—quieting ourselves before God and His sovereignty, while also actively seeking Him “wholeheartedly.” Both lead to true surrender and submission to our great God—the only One who can truly give us hope!
lindagma on April 28, 2011 at 6:14 am
When we got word that my brother was in his last days, I was pleading with God, “Don’t let him go without knowing you.” I had prayed for years that He would send someone to my brother that could get through to him. He was angry with God after his wife took her own life. I had witnessed to him often, but what do sisters know. I reached a point of being numb and my brother reached a stage of not being able to communicate. The Lord provided a way for me to travel to his funeral and there I learned that his wonderful Christian neighbor, the Chaplain at the VA hospital and the night nurse had all been ministering to him. They assured me and gave great detail of how my brother was able to release his anger and guilt and was at peace…looking forward to eternity with the Lord. How faithful is our Lord, answering our prayers and holding us up in the worst of times.
tom felten on April 28, 2011 at 7:59 am
Amazing story, lindagma! Thanks so much for sharing it. This gives the whole ODJ community hope as we consider those people in our lives that seem so distant from God. We so want them to draw close to God and to receive salvation through Jesus. What happened with your brother shows how often God works through multiple sources (not just us) to open the hearts and minds of our lost loved ones!
eppistle on April 28, 2011 at 8:17 am
Suffering is a blessing in disguise if it wakes us up from our complacency and pride, and motivates us to search for God (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).
tom felten on April 28, 2011 at 8:26 am
Good thoughts, eppistle. As Paul mentions earlier in 2 Corinthians, suffering also allows us to provide genuine hope and comfort to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
GChoo on April 28, 2011 at 8:54 am
Thanks Tom for today’s devotion. lindagma, thanks for your sharing. It definitely brought me to tears. Not tears of sadness but joy because we have a real, great and faithful God.
I have a similar situation with my younger brother who passed away 2 years ago. Over the years i have been praying for him to be saved. He was an idols worshipper. The devil had given him wealth and fantastic life for himself and his family. My brother probably never thought it would end and with such a steep fall. From having everything to having almost nothing except his dear parents and sisters supporting him and his own family.
We were in touch through occasional calls/msn from him since we live in different countries. One day, he called to tell me that he had become a Christian due to a messy situation he had got himself into. I was abit taken by surprise, but i was really, really so full of joy to hear the good news. I was so thankful to God for listening to my prayers all these years, probably also prayers from my parents (they become Christians too, due to years of prayers). I am glad he is now with our heavenly Father.
All i can say is, it is important to keep praying and sharing your relationship you have with God to others. God actually does the rest. I must admit, it is never easy. I can only remind myself to continue to search God’s Word and His promises. To continue to walk in His Spirit. Thank you, our faithful God.
tom felten on April 28, 2011 at 10:22 am
Wow. Thanks for sharing, GChoo. I’m so glad your younger brother received salvation! It sounds like you have an amazing family that lovingly reached out to him and his family—helping him during his final days. I love your closing thoughts, yes, we need to continue to search God’s Word and walk in His Spirit! Praise Him!
winn collier on April 28, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I’ve been reading a big of Martin Luther King, Jr. He talks about the distinctly Christian truth of the “redemptive power of suffering.” It’s not suffering for the suffering’s sake or suggesting that suffering of itself is in any way good – but that because Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead, even suffering can be exploited by God to good ends.
daisymarygoldr on April 28, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Is God hidden that people must seek Him? The Bible says that God’s invisible attributes have been clearly seen through His creation by all people at all times. If God is not hidden, then is He lost that we must search for Him? Paul tells us that God has created all nations and has determined their rise and fall. And “His purpose was for the nations to seek and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him—though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist”.
So, if we still don’t find God, then it’s not that He is lost. It is we who are lost and have been seeking Him for all the wrong reasons. God shows Himself to those who search for Him (not for what He gives). He is found by those who truly desire to pursue a relationship with Him. It is God who first sought us and has fully revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
And it is in Christ alone, we will find and know that He is God of love, full of compassion, rich in mercy, gracious and forgiving, abounding in faithfulness and lavishing His unfailing love to a thousand generations. Hope in heartache and misery lies in seeking not His presents but His presence—of love, joy and peace.
The Bible is God’s written revelation to humankind. Those who passionately dig and search the scriptures will be rewarded with an amazing find of a lifetime. Everyone who seeks God will surely find Him.