As we go into the 5th month of this COVID-19 pandemic I wanted to share a season or a moment I went through in the beginning of this pandemic and I hope this can be a encouragement to you or someone you may know.

When COVID-19 started I can honestly say that I was already walking in stagnant/spiritual funk I would say. My desires were not to open up the Scriptures and read, to spend time in prayer (much more so even to fall on my knees), and to continue to pursue our Lord with a fervent and willing heart. I can say I was in a dark place and as time passed I fell deeper into this complacency giving into my flesh and becoming quite lazy. I got to a point where I had no desire to encourage, to share, or to teach Gods Word. I even had the thought to stop teaching/sharing Gods Word. Its really hard for me to say that but it was the battle that was going on in my mind. There was a wrestling match on and I was on the losing end. Then there came that light.

The grace and mercy that we so ever forget and take advantage of: Gods mercies came and He lead me to read the book of Lamentations. The book of Lamentations is about a time period where God judged His people Israel for their built up disobediences. God had sent them prophets and His Word to turn to Him but they didn't listen. Jeremiah being one of the last prophets God sent to deliver His message is the writer who God lead to write this book. Its about Lamenting or weeping over what God was showing Jeremiah. I encourage you to read it one time. For todays devotional we will only be going over two portions of the book Lamentations 1:1-7 and Chapter 3: 31-32. Please open your bible and read it in its entirety.

In chapter 1 in the first verse the Scripture says how Jerusalem (Gods Holy City) was sitting "lonely," and God was describing how great the city was "among the nations." But Jerusalem had become a "slave." God sent a judgment to His people by sending over the empire of Babylon to go and destroy the temple and the city. They literally burned God’s temple. Yes God did allow for it. God in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty allows for things to happen because He sees beyond what we see or imagine. God allowed for His people to suffer affliction, heart ache, and pain. In verse 2 it says, " she weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheek; Among all her lovers she has none to comfort her, all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies." Israel was living and indulging themselves with other people, things, idols, and even places! They were not focused on their God. Their eyes had shifted away from the Lord and focused on the things of this world.

We can be sure that when we take our eyes of Jesus Christ and start to walk in the darkness that there will be no comfort, no peace, and no joy. There will be no one and no thing that can bring us what only God can bring us. Our fleshly desires only last for a moment and they will not bring true satisfaction in hearts. Idols and people won't bring true comfort and people will betray us and deal horribly with us. In verse 7 it says, " In the days of her affliction and roaming, Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old." While Jerusalem was in captivity and roaming and walking around in captivity (where they really placed themselves) they remembered! They remembered all the pleasant things of old. They remembered their days of youth, their days of glory, their days of strength and of prosperity. What a place to be as a people. As a people of promise! And that is where God showed me I was.

I was the one entertaining my flesh, I was the one who wasn't seeking the Lord. Every complacent thought and act that I did and allowed did not bring me comfort. It only bought misery and that is where I was and God was telling me " you are in the same place". I remembered my days of old when I first became a born again Christian, being filled by the Holy Spirit, being led to speak with people who God would lead me to give an encouraging Word, to engage with the lost and share the gospel! Yes I was in captivity. But praise the Lord for Jesus Christ who is our Hope!

In closing I want to share the last verses which really shows the heart of God and which lead me to be liberated from the darkness and complacency I was in! In Lamentation Chapter 3 there are beautiful verses that Jeremiah writes when God reminds Him of the nature of Gods love related to His correction/judgements. I encourage you again to read that chapter. I will only share Lamentations 3: 31-32, it say," For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies." You see God was pulling on my heart and I know that I didn't deserve it! I was in this dark place, in this pit which Satan keep tempting me to think that there is no hope, that there is no way out of that pit! But Satan is liar and he only desires to steal and destroy Gods plans by destroying us through His lies and manipulations and temptations, trying to deceive us into thinking there is no way out for me, that there is no hope for me. Yet I was cast off in darkness, the Lord didn't cast me off forever. Though I was in grief yet He showed compassion. Why? because of His compassion and His endless mercies! I was walking in darkness but He remembered me.

You see God love us so much that He will allow grief and sorrow but He will pull and guide us back to Himself. We must only be willing to listen and believe and trust in God in taking that small step of obedience and give Him a chance to work the miracle of His great power. So whatever you may be going through remember that no pit and no sin is to deep for God to pull you out of. He is Faithful! He is our Hope! Amen!

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one way you can move towards surrending your will to God's will?
 
2. What small step of faith can you take today to see Gods power at work?

 

Reference Scriptures

Lamentations 1:1-7; 3:31-32