“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
~ Jeremiah 32:17
A prophet named Jeremiah was an ordinary man like you and me. He didn’t call down fire from heaven or heal the sick, like Elijah. Or part waters like Moses. He spent most of his days in suffering. In fact, he was called the “weeping prophet”.
About 2600 years ago, Jeremiah was watching the Babylonian army build ramparts around the city of Jerusalem, preparing to pounce on God’s people. The likely outcome would be tragedy. And yet, in that moment, the Lord tells Jeremiah to go buy a plot of land near Jerusalem, land that would one day be Jeremiah’s farm.
At that time, it must have sounded like the worst investment in history. But to Jeremiah, it was a deposit of hope. Hope that for him and for the people of Israel the ultimate outcome would be triumph. That is why he prayed, “Nothing is too hard for you!”
Yes, Jerusalem would be destroyed. Yes, most of the people would be taken into exile. But God would protect Jeremiah and he would stay in the land. And the exiles would one day return and rebuild the temple.
Even and especially in the midst of our pain and suffering, God has made a deposit of hope. He did it when Jesus’ cold body was placed in a damp tomb, only to rise again, fully alive. Jesus’ death and resurrection paid for our rescue, but also for our place in God’s new heaven and new earth. When Jesus returns, all of life’s suffering will be transformed into eternal joy.
Knowing that your life will end in triumph doesn’t immediately take away your pain, but it will give you hope that the best is yet to come.
Prayer: Lord God, you often bless me with joy and happiness. In times of tears, lift up my eyes to see that my life will ultimately end in triumph because of your victory through your cross and resurrection. Amen.
Living Hope Church 