When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he witnessed such evils - in his nation and toward his nation - that he felt constant grief in his heart. He wept often before the Lord and even wished he hadn’t been born to see such days. But God never asks His people to endure the evil days without showing them the good days to come.
Jeremiah fell asleep and the Lord showed him the future… “Lo, they shall return and be in rest and quiet, and no one shall make them afraid, for I am with you, to save you… Their soul shall be as a watered garden; they shall not sorrow anymore at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow… and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord… For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
Then Jeremiah added: “Upon this I awaked and understood (how things would end); and my sleep was sweet to me” (Jeremiah 31:26).
What changed everything from the carnage of sin to visions of future joy? The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ bringing a New Covenant. His forgiveness, the pouring out of His Spirit to transform hearts and lives, and His return to gather them again in love and restoring grace.
We too feel continual grief at all the evil around us. The Lord knows how deeply we long for Him to return and set things right. But the Spirit of Christ has also shown us “things to come,” and “upon this” we rest our weary hearts and our minds.
Behold, the days are coming…
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