Even when I suspect the worst and it turns out to be true, I will inevitably experience a wave of disappointment. If I give myself over to that wave, it will carry me out of God’s purpose and off to a place that is me-focused. That sea of selfishness is far from God’s best for my life. Instead allowing myself to be carried away, I handle disappointment best when I lift my voice to the Father and air my grievances upward. Crying out to heaven makes my soul stronger in the waves of sorrow, less susceptible to the drift of self-pity.
Author: Anna
This idea of governing our feelings can be daunting. My feelings are loud and powerful: a bit like the Niagara River spilling over the Falls. Even with that analogy, I recall that the Niagara features a series of locks along the way: allowing for the regulation of the flow of rushing waters.
We may not all be shepherds, but we each suffer from first person limitation.
This scripture reminds us: we are being renovated. There is a great transformation taking place in our soul. A great deal of it is immediate upon salvation, but we continue to cooperate with the Spirit of God toward complete sanctification.
We work throughout our marriage and our lifetime to live God’s way.
My husband, in his quiet, revelatory manner, spoke plainly: “Really, the sun is setting all the time. It is always sunset somewhere.”
It seems very reasonable that in His own wilderness season, our Savior could have returned to the Red Sea and walked the very path of His people.
God knows our need. He has designated the very zip code where we reside. Our requirements are not unanticipated. The springs are already in place, ready to be signed over into our keeping. The question is, will we draw near and ask in faith? Will we recognize God as our source and make our requests known to Him?
So how did Jeremiah fight his own personal waves of discouragement? Lamentations offers us a powerful glimpse into a prophet’s heart.