“13 What thing shall I take to witness for you? what thing shall I liken to you, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? for your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?
14 Your prophets have seen vain and foolish things for you: and they have not discovered your iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for you false burdens and causes of banishment.” Lamentations 2:13-14
Israel’s false prophets comforted them in their pending Babylonian captivity saying it would only be for a little while instead of calling them to repentance for their disobedience and turning from God. They then, just as false prophets do today, tickled the ears of God’s Children who would not endure sound doctrine and have turned their ears from the Truth and turned unto fables and vain philosophies from man’s own mind (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Comparing Israel’s pain to other’s pain would not console her. Comparing our own unpleasing circumstances to other’s or our own past and more pleasant circumstances will not bring understanding or comfort to our current circumstances…whatever that particular circumstance may be.
“39 Wherefore does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins 40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” Lamentations 3:39-41
Only the Lord can heal the affliction He has allowed in the life of His disobedient children and to be certain this affliction is allowed to turn us again to the Lord. Self will causes us to stray from the Word of God and results in the Believer being out of the Will of God. Instead of complaining about our circumstances, let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord. As we lift up our hands in worship, let us lift up our hearts in repentance unto God.
“6 But He gives more grace. Wherefore He said, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7
For the Child of God, we live in a fallen world and our circumstances are not always pleasant. However, there is a peace there beyond all understanding and joy unspeakable when we look unto Jesus…He IS our Blessed Hope. Because of Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe, we lay up our treasures in Heaven and understand we are just passing through this fallen world in this temporary tent of flesh. Along the way, we spread the Good News of our Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
However, for some, they have not yet submitted unto God’s Will and His Plan for victory this side of Glory and they are bound and afflicted…yet they are not defeated.
“21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.” Lamentatians 3:21-24
Consider the affliction before complaining about the affliction. Perhaps we should search our own ways and turn again unto the Lord. When we lift up our hands in praise, should we also be lifting up our hearts in repentance?
“If My People, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Prayerfully consider.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 