Trusting our Gracious Lord to Show Mercy, EVEN BEYOND my Requests

Dear Fellow Children of God,



Do you ever struggle in prayer?  Does your heart yearn for blessings, for answers from God, which seem too big?  Does your heart yearn for grace that common sense says will not and can not happen?  So why even pray?  If you have these struggles consider with me the book of Jeremiah.



I just finished reading the writings and prophecies of Jeremiah in my daily devotions.  First I read the 52 chapters of Jeremiah, and then the 5 chapters of Lamentations which chronicle Jeremiah’s tears.  Jeremiah is not my favorite book because of the necessary topic of Jeremiah’s prophecies.  The people of Israel had time and again rebelled against God.  The chosen nation of God had left the true Lord;  they had chased after and worshiped other gods and idols.  Though their loving shepherd called them home, though the Lord called them to repentance and to true worship, time and again the people did not listen.  So, Jeremiah speaks God’s judgment against the sin of the people.  Jeremiah prophesies the inevitable punishment that is coming.  Unfortunately, the horrible punishment Jeremiah foretold did afflict God’s people.  Listening to Jeremiah’s words of condemnation and judgement is difficult and unpleasant.  But, what makes this more difficult is that many of the sins of the people of Jeremiah’s day can be seen in America today. 



However, in spite of the harsh words of judgment, Jeremiah also shared God’s sweet words of grace and of deliverance.  In the midst of the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem, these promises of deliverance were what the people ached for.  But, in many ways, the people of God had turned away from their Lord so surely that these promises of God’s grace seemed too good to be true.  Would God really, after bringing destruction, then bring new life to the nation of Israel?  They could hope for such deliverance.  But such hope seemed unrealistic.



Yet listen to these words of promise.  Jeremiah 31 contains one of the most beautiful passages in scripture in verses 31-34.  But, earlier in that chapter come these words of deliverance,  ¹⁰ "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.' ¹¹ For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. ¹² They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.    (Jeremiah 31:10-13)  Yes, in judgment God righteously punished His chosen people.  But . . . the Lord promises to keep His flock.  He promises to ransom and redeem Israel.  The people of God hoped for such deliverance, but such hope seemed too good to be true, especially after their failure and their sin.



And in Lamentation, as the city of Jerusalem is destroyed, Jeremiah nevertheless proclaims, these wonderful, hopeful, promises from God.  ²² The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;  ²³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  ²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."  ²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  ²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. ²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.  ²⁸ Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;  ²⁹ let him put his mouth in the dust-- there may yet be hope; (Lamentations 3:22-29) Even as Jerusalem is destroyed, there is hope in our gracious Lord.



But, I wonder if these desperate people realized that God would not only fulfill these unbelievable promises.  The Lord would do even more than the people hoped or asked.  Ultimately, in Jesus, God would not just give deliverance in this life.  The Lord of the universe gives eternal deliverance and eternal life in heaven. 



Are you ever afraid to pray, because your hopes and desires seem too big for God?  Have you prayed for someone with great illness?  I have prayed that prayer often.  God can, and often does heal. I have heard doctors surprised at the recovery of a sick person for whom the church was fervent in pray.  But, EVEN MORE, our Lord gives total health and He gives eternal life in heaven.



Have you prayed for peace and justice in this world?  Our Lord does rule the nations, and, surprisingly at times, brings peace and justice in certain times and places.  But, the prayer for peace often seems unrealistic, too big to ask.  Yet even more than peace and justice in this world, God gives eternal peace in His presence in heaven.



Have you prayed for God’s people, for the Church of Christ, to live in love, in faith, and in unity?  God can heal the broken church in this world.  I have seen such healing.  But, . . . EVEN MORE, in heaven God’s people live in love and unity forever!  Heaven is often described as a big banquet.  Some might even call heaven “an eternal party” of praising the Creator and Savior of all.

There are times I feel I have hoped against hope in my prayers.  I desired healing.  I yearned for peace and unity.  But, such desires seemed too big, and I forgot the promise of Ephesians 3.  ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)  Our hopes and desires can seem too big.  But God can do abundantly more!  HE is God!

This week I experienced tears as God answered some long-term prayers of mine.  These requests to God seemed too big.  But, in faith I kept praying.  Thankfully, God did not just give what I was hesitant to ask.  God does even more, in Jesus.



Nothing is too big to bring to God in prayer.  Our Lord is bigger than all our problems.



A Child of God, Trusting our Gracious Lord to Show Mercy, Even Beyond my Requests,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.   This year again, Kathy and I attended the Veterans of the Cross Retreat in Fruitland Park, FL.  We saw MANY long time friends.  Among those present was Pastor Victor Belton, who led devotions and worship.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/6wjtq9Hsrqjq7ywK6

P.P.S.  Here are some more fishing pictures.

·       On Saturday, February 29, I went fishing with my brother in law, Mark Reaves.  We did not catch any fish, but we did see this stork.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/9ZanVBshQGFHD4Xu7

·       On Sunday, March 1, I went fishing with my brother Stephen on the Withlacoochee River.  We only fished a short time, but both of us caught a mudfish / bowfin.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/qELh2ZH39ade8bak9

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ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I am now retired as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran in Palmer, AK.  This devotion was previously titled, "Thoughts from the Pastor."  However, with life's changes I will now call it "Journeys Through Life as a Child of God."  I am only sending this message to those who have asked o receive it.  If you know someone else who desires to receive this message, have them e-mail me at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.  You can also view this message on my Facebook page.

            A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY THEY ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING MY DEVOTIONS.  Since I’m only sending these e-mails to people who ask for them, many are no longer receiving them.  BUT, if you read this on Facebook and would like to receive them, or if you know someone who would like to receive these devotions, send me an e-mail at jonrock53@mtaonline.net, and I will add you to my distribution list.