Song: How can we sing in a strange land by Commissioned
I’ve had a complete love affair with the scripture Jeremiah 29:11. In fact, it was part of my first tattoo ( I have 2 and no, I’m not going to hell because of them). But I can honestly say that I have zero recollection of the whole chapter. So my daily devotions takes me there and I’m surprised and bewildered. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon and the prophet Jeremiah is writing a letter to tell them what God has said to him.
Jeremiah 29 in essence says, yes you’re a captive but I want you to stay there and flourish. There were false prophets among them saying what they wanted to hear, but God didn’t send them. Wow…just wow.
We see this a lot today. The body of Christ (the church) has become a feel good massage parlor. When we hit a snag in life or a bit of trouble, we rebuke all demons, run looking for the nearest prophet and wear our sack cloths and ashes so people know to pray for us. Now for a bit of honesty; some trouble we do to ourselves by ourselves. We are clearly aware of the consequences we’re dealing with and yet we want someone to tell us that “Thus saith the Lord…..”, when if we were honest we know this problem is going to last a while.
I’ll take transparency for $500, I’ve often prayed for death in the last 10 years. I like to think I can handle one problem at a time, but the overwhelming feeling of problem flooding is too much. I’m also aware that something inside keeps reminding me that this sickness is not unto death. That in this place of captivity there are lessons that can’t be learned in a place of comfort.
So I’m gonna try to resist the frequent urges to fight for freedom and become like that rare flower that grows in the desert. No matter where I’m planted, I know God will keep watering me.