When people are bewildered,
their tendency is to go searching for answers everywhere except God. But this
was not so for Jeremiah. He beelined for God and engaged Him in prayer. In Jeremiah 32:6-25, we see Jeremiah
praying. We are literally taking a peep into a page of his prayer
journal. Let’s take time to reflect on the prayer he prayed in these verses
unhurriedly and glean the lessons God has for us.
To begin with, let us consider the opening words of this prayer.
Jeremiah opened his prayer in verse 17a with three words - “Ah, Lord God!”
They may be just three short words, but they carry a deep sense of his bewilderment.
Jeremiah had been prophesying for years that God would be destroying
Jerusalem. And just when what he had been preaching was about to happen, God
told him to buy a piece of land from his cousin. Though he was puzzled by God’s
instruction, he obeyed his instruction absolutely. And after he had
handed the title deed of the land to Baruch, he took his bewilderment to God in
prayer.
This exclamation ‘Ah Lord God” cannot be
interpreted other than a deep sigh from his bewildered soul. He had been through
much. He had to deal with unbelieving kings. Then he had to encounter false
prophets who were opposing him and claiming that what he was saying was false.
And the people of Judah would not take him at his word even when facing the
looming destruction of both Judah and Jerusalem. People would divest and invest
when they sense a crisis coming, yet he was told to buy a piece of land. What
would the people think? If troubles were brewing as he had proclaimed why then
did God instruct him to invest in a piece of land. This is not only confusing
but mystifying. What better way in a moment like this than to turn to God?
How do we deal with our confusion in life? The best thing to do in
life when we have doubts and are confused is to bring them to the Lord in prayer. Paul guarantees in
Romans 8:26 that the Holy Spirit is the best source of help when we are in such
a predicament. He said, “In the same way
the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with
groanings too deep for words….” When we are at our wit's end, the Holy Spirit
can help us to turn our perplexity into praying. For “He
who searches the hearts knows what the
mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes
for the saints according to the
will of God.”
Hear the encouraging words of
Joseph M. Scriven who wrote a poem to encourage her mother.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and f griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptation?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so
faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our
refuge – take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise,
forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll shield you;
you will find a solace there.
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