Six years ago, on this day, I said both hello and goodbye to my sweet baby boy Gideon. Through his life and death, I tasted destruction and the threat of despair for the very first time. I moaned and wept as the walls I had built around my life came crashing down. I wondered, can God possibly heal this?
The words of Jeremiah chapters 46–48 detail another destruction story, one where we find despair in almost every verse, leaving us to wonder if hope for humanity is even possible. Can God possibly heal this?
The people of Egypt “are terrified, they are retreating… terror is on every side!” (Jeremiah 46:5). The Philistines “will cry out, and every inhabitant will wail… they will be utterly helpless” (Jeremiah 47:2–3). The Moabites “will be shattered; her little ones will cry out” (Jeremiah 48:4). Darkness had fully overtaken these countries, and we learn why: because they trusted in their “work and treasures” (Jeremiah 48:7). And yet, for those who put their trust in God, there is a light that rises up. In the middle of the dark, destruction, and despair, we see that God has never left the side of those who call Him Lord.
No one in humanity is spared; death will reach each and everyone of us. At some point, whether Israelite or Egyptian, Christian or non-Christian, the walls of our lives, our cities, our possessions will come crashing down. But for those who do put their hope in God, we are not to be afraid because He promises to be with us (Jeremiah 46:27–28). Our hope does not lie in circumstances, works, or treasures; therefore, we have nothing to fear.
“Do not be afraid.” These were the words my sweet Jesus brought to my mind every morning after Gideon died. In the moments when I was beating my pillow and pleading with God to somehow give me my baby back, He was with me. In the mornings when I wept at Gideon’s graveside, wondering if I would ever get up, God was there. This is the promise we have when we give our lives to Jesus. When we choose to follow God, when we accept Jesus’s death for us as atonement for our sins, and when we seek to follow Him each and every day, then even when terror and wailing come, we have hope.
So He’s shown me the answer to my question is, yes, God can heal even this, whatever this may be. And so it is within these passages from Jeremiah: Yes, God can heal this too. Therefore, we stand in confidence, and in all things remember that, “As for man, his days are like grass… But from eternity to eternity, the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him” (Psalm 103:15,17).
Fear is void of faith and faith only show up when we trust. Trust God and prosper. This is my daily
So many of us walk around with deep pain. Some is self inflicted but much if it stems from the brokenness of the world. Only He can redeem this pain.
Yesterday was a rough day of feeling pain, isolation, and sadness. Today I am looking for Him – to remind me He is close, that I don’t necessarily need my normal patterns and supports to move forward.
Will you pray for me sisters? That I will seek Him and He will overwhelm me with his goodness, peace, and wisdom of how to proceed? I am lifting all of you up this morning.
Praying Kara that God would overwhelm you with His love and mercy. May you feel His presence surround you. Father God, give Kara direction and guidance as she seeks to do Your will in her life. Open doors for her in the directions You want her to take and give her peace and not fear as she learns to hear Your voice.
I’ve put Romans 12:12 prominently in my living room during this time. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Last week I was really floundering, worried and anxious.
But God.
Yes, God!
I spent a whole day reading and praying His Word. And He reminded me of all the ways He has been with me, and taken care of our family, healed my cancer, the list goes on….
He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is faithful.
And He is in control.
He has a perfect plan.
So I cling to Him when fear threatens to rise up. In Him I have hope.
Blessings to you ladies. ❤️
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Can’t you hear Judah crying “It’s just not fair!” After all, they were the chosen people, dragged off in captivity. Surely their sins weren’t as bad as the Babylonians. They were a ruthless and cruel nation. Why would God do this to Judah and seemingly overlook the evil of the Babylonians? God graciously tells Judah that He will deal justly with all nations, just as He always has. God is disciplining Judah for their good and He will bring them back “from the land of their captivity.” As for all those other nations who have sought the destruction of Judah, He will bring destruction on them. God is a just God. He is fair. Judah has hope because they are God’s people. He will not abandon them. Yes, He will discipline them, but He will not leave them. So too for us. God disciplines we believers but He will not, cannot, abandon us. He will not, cannot, leave us. He will deliver on every promise. His love is that great. Our hope stands firm, on unshakable Rock.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalms 73:25-26 ESV
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,”
John 6:68 ESV
Thank you, Maria for sharing about your precious Gideon. I have read your book too! I buried my baby. She was stillborn. Many that are on here may remember me writing about her. I was catholic, went to church, had ccd classes, but didn’t have a clue about the Bible, God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. I thought of God as being up in Heaven out to get me if I did something wrong. I had been tormented by the enemy for years too. I didn’t know that God has defeated him. I was blaming myself for her death. It must have been my fault I would think. After her burial, my sister-in-laws, father-in-law, invited me to his church. I went, and I was so angry. My milk came in, but I had no baby to feed. People were clapping and praising. I thought they were crazy! A certain lady caught my eye. I thought, no wonder she can be so happy. She probably has the perfect life. That same woman came up to me, and said that she normally didn’t do this, but God told me to tell you to run to Him and not away! I came to find out, that she didn’t have a perfect life! She had a miscarriage, money problems, and more. Why could she praise? She had the joy of the Lord. She was used by God to help me on my journey by listening, teaching, writing a letter to me, and giving me praise music to listen to. I’ve learned that ever life has a purpose! That has been comforting to myself and others are have shared this with! Again, every life has a purpose! That day I listened to the pastor and he told us about the Gospel. I went to the front. My mother in law said I ran down! I wanted salvation! The sermons and hearing God’s Word were what I craved. I needs to hear about Him, because my days were excruciating at times after her death. Her life had and has a purpose. I’ve been able to help others that have gone through losing a child.Maybe God is calling one of you to that today. As some ladies grow in their faith, the walk along side a younger or new believer. We can still do that through technology. The death of my daughter brought me to hear about Jesus. The God I thought was out to get me did that for me. This recalling is actually hitting me right now. He does love me/us. He does chase after us! I’ve been doubting recently that I am even His, but I am! I didn’t think this would happen when I started writing. I thought I should just share my story. How awesome is God to touch me with and remind me of His Goodness and love.He doesn’t leave or forsake us! I am His!!!! I can’t help but think of the song, Reckless Love: https://youtu.be/Sc6SSHuZvQE. Thank you again, Maria for today’s devotional and your book. It let’s me know that others have struggled too in their thought life too. Be blessed!
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This brought me to tears, thank you for sharing!!
Oh Sherry I’m so sorry, it’s a “club” that none of us want to be in but I do believe that God is especially gentle to His baby loss Momma’s. Thank you for sharing. And Amen to those words from Job, that is a good word right there sister!
Maria, I share your story, as I also placed my baby in Jesus’s arms many years ago. I walked that path of devastating grief with God and came out on the other side filled with peace, hope and closer to my God. The story that finally brought me to that point was Job’s story. The words I heard were “ I am God, and you are not.” I hold on to these words today. I trust God in the storm the world is experiencing today and I rest in His arms.