The biblical prophet Jeremiah is sometimes called "the weeping prophet." The people of Judah rejected him and refused to heed his warnings, resulting in great grief for both the nation as a whole and for Jeremiah personally. Yet it would be a mistake to assume Jeremiah's grief is the end of the story. InJeremiah 30, we start to see promises of healing and restoration: "I am going to restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, and have compassion on his dwellings . . . Out of them shall come thanksgiving, and the sound of merrymakers" (vv. 18-19). This restoration included the promise of a future prince of whom God says, "I will bring him near, and he shall approach me, for who would otherwise dare to approach me?" (v. 21). As Christians, we believe this prince who approaches God the Father on our behalf is Jesus the Messiah, who brought about our ultimate restoration through his death and resurrection. Through him, we can likewise "approach the throne of grace with boldness" (Hebrews 4:16). If weeping Jeremiah and exiled Judah could have hope in God's compassionate promise of restoration, we who know the greater restoration available through Jesus can have even more reason to hope today. So we pray with confidence in God's compassion, trusting that "we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Whatever your grief or suffering may be today, may you be blessed with such trust in his promise of restoration through Christ.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Chris