There are moments when I go through the “what ifs” of my life. They usually come when my mind wanders through its halls of memory lane. Some of these jaunts will throw out a memory I had forgotten. I was reminiscing over one when I was but 9 years old. I suppose it renewed itself in my mind because I was reflecting on how old I was when I started to recognize some of the questions of my heart.
When I started to ask my parents how do we know that God really is. I was told that they could tell me how they knew but eventually I would know it for myself.
Even at that young age I knew that I wanted the Lord to live in my heart as I had been taught. What I couldn’t understand then was what Jeremiah wrote that God had said, ” I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts.” I just couldn’t figure out, how I could read them in my heart.
As I read the scripture recently I thought about it some more. In the 31st chapter of Jeremiah, the people tried to blame God’s judgment on the sins of their ancestors. Why not? It’s simply easier to blame someone else for our misery than assume responsibility for it. Of course, one person’s wrongdoings affect others. But ultimately, we are all personally accountable for what we’ve done or not done.
In this chapter God was making a new covenant with the people. It was quite obvious that the “old covenant” was too often broken. Our life in The Lord is built upon a relationship with Him! We develop it daily. And the more we relate to each other, the closer we become. The relationship expands and flourishes into one that is personal and intimate.
In the following chapter of Jeremiah, God encouraged Jeremiah to buy a field. Jeremiah bought it; but after the purchase he still had doubts that it was the right thing to do. How many times have we done this after we have committed to something?
So what did he do? He prayed and sought the Lord to calm him from the irritating doubt. In this prayer Jeremiah declared: that God is Creator, the wise Judge of all the ways of people, and Redeemer.
One thing we should keep in mind is that God loves us. God certainly understands us and the situation we are in.
Whenever we doubt God’s wisdom or even question the practicality of obeying Him, we should focus on what we already know about him through our faith and personal relational experience.
I know that it certainly soothes my doubt discomfort level. I know that he is real. I know that he is there. I know that he cares. I know that he loves. I know that he guides. I know that he answers. I know that he is!
God said, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
My answer to that, “No, absolutely not!”
ritasalomon 