Advent 3rd December

Monday 3rd December

“After this, I looked around. The earth was barren, with no form of life. The sun, moon, and stars had disappeared. The mountains were shaking; no people could be seen, and all the birds had flown away. Farmland had become a  desert,  and towns were in ruins. The Lord’s fierce anger  had done all of this.  The Lord said, I have made my decision, and I won’t change my mind. This land will  be destroyed. although not completely.” Jeremiah 4:23-28    

Readings:

Psalm 18
Jeremiah 4:23-28

Romans 13:11-14

Reflection

I am sure  you have been discouraged at some point of your life. When working through a difficult situation you realise you are back to square one and have to start again. Jeremiah paints a prophetic picture of bleakness and desolation. Disaster has struck and some of Jeremiah’s catastrophic words are identical to Genesis 1:1—there is no light. Four times Jeremiah “looked” and could not take his eyes of the ruined land. Deserted wasteland, quaking mountains and swaying hills yet in the midst there is a glimmer of light. When the Lord says “I will not destroy it completely” (v27) there is hope. This note of hope emerges through the Old Testament and finds fulfilment in Jesus.

At some point in our lives we experience periods of dark times— there are times of bereavement, illness, job loss, financial difficulties, family issues..the list seems endless.  We know of others too—their names and faces come to mind. Does it help to know you are not alone in your period of anguish?  Can you join with the prophet Micah “Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light” (Micah 7:8)

Prayer

Comforting God,

I pray for all experiencing darkness and I pray that your light may shine on their pathway and in their hearts, that they may know that even in difficult times you walk alongside them.

Amen