What Jeremiah has been prophesying for forty years is now coming to pass. Jerusalem is besieged by the King of Babylon and the end is now. History shows the city was totally destroyed, houses burned to the ground (along with home alters built to worship Baal) and the surviving Israelites carted off in exile to Babylon.
Imagine how they felt marching to Babylon, knowing they’d been warned to turn from their idols back to their Creator, and feeling like all is lost with the fall of their nation and no hope of ever returning to their homeland.
Many of us can identify with making a decision that ruined something in our life: a divorce where child custody was lost, an indiscretion that cost a career or disqualification from service, and friendships that were permanently destroyed. Or maybe it was out of our control: a fire, tornado, or flood that destroyed everything we value.
Today, as you spend time with God, release to him your part in the chaos, or your anger at personal ruin that’s out of your control. Acknowledge the part you played—or that it just feels unfair—then give any feelings or thoughts of hopelessness to God, acknowledging he’s the one who has “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29.11).
