Jeremiah lived in very difficult times.  God continually spoke to him, words of warning for the evil, injustice and idolatry around him in Judah.  Jermiah had to stand alone against the crowd, for he spoke “uncomfortable truths” to the people of Judah.  He wept for his people, but he obeyed God.  He spoke the truth.

Sometimes I look at these Old Testament prophets, wondering what they could possibly have to say to us.  And then I look around me.  Injustice, hatred and evil surround us today, much as it did in the time of Jeremiah.  God must weep over our land, just as he did over Judah.  Not so much has changed.  Nation fight against nation.  We discriminate between nationalities, between races and colors, and even between the rich and the poor. 

God still speaks to us today, even through the words of a prophet who lived in about 500 AD.  But God also gave words of hope for Jeremiah to share.   The people of Judah would first have to suffer 70 years of exile in Babylon, before God called them back, but there were words of hope.

Jeremiah 29:11-13-
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.  Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.  When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.” 

This is hope for us in the 21^st century as well.  We are discouraged, we are afraid, we don’t know where to turn.  We don’t know what lies ahead.  But our God still has plans for our welfare, he hears us.  Call upon him, seek him, pray to him . . . he may test us first . . . . but he has not forgotten us.  Do not give up hope!

Judy