“Those who sow in tears will reap with joyful shouting” (Psalm 126:3) We are reading Jeremiah this week. He is known as the weeping prophet. Without any argument, he had a hard life. It is strange to consider, then, that one of the verses we know best from this man is an expression of unbounded hope. “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare, not calamity; to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11) What a positive vision! Perhaps Jeremiah knew what we sometimes forget. Before joy can come tears have to be shed. Before the harvest, hard work. Before victory, sacrifice. As we pray together, today, will you be sensitive to the points of the Lord’s prayer that are most difficult for you to sincerely say? Difficulty is often the door toward God. Avoiding hard things usually means that we never get past them. I am praying with you this morning! Don
It is a genuine blessing to read this today. In past hard times, “thy will be done” has been hard to say and mean. Today, we’re reminded that God does indeed have plans to prosper us, give us a future and give us hope….no matter what! Truly astounding! Thank you, Don.