Today you should read: Jeremiah 31:1-14
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. (v. 13)
Today, I just want us to focus on the above verse. This verse beautifully encapsulates the restoring work that God does in all of us.
In this context, Jeremiah is obviously talking about Israel. If you have been with us on this journey through Jeremiah, you know that Israel is a disobedient mess. They are consumed with themselves, disobedient to God, worshipping idols, you name it. But this passage is leading up to verses 31-40 in chapter 31, where God talks about the new covenant he is making with Israel.
The point is that even in their mess, God desires to see Israel restored; we see a wonderful example of the grace and mercy of God in dealing with his people.
When we think about how we relate to this, we need to be honest with ourselves and see that we are much more like the people of Israel than we often care to admit. We look at their foolish disobedience and are tempted to look down on their lack of faith, but the reality is that we often lack faith and the desire to obey God just like them.
In this broken world we experience mourning and sorrow because of suffering and sin. God is the only one that can turn our mourning into joy and sorrow into rejoicing, and he does it through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What sorrow and/or suffering exists in your life that needs to be given over to God? Only God is able to bring true peace and comfort to the brokenness in our lives, because he alone has the answer to our sin: Jesus Christ.
By: Graham Withers — Pastoral Ministry Associate
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