READ-THINK-PRAY-REST: God’s Pathway to Peaceনমুনা

There are times when it feels as if the life has been sucked out of us, when the struggle to get up each day is so strong, we wonder how we will survive. God’s presence is a distant memory and it often feels as if our pain has come straight from his hand. In those moments, the only prayer we have is one of lament. 

We are in good company when we lament—the psalms are replete with expressions of complaint, frustration, sorrow and even anger. The prophets lamented a lot as well, and we learn from them that our feelings ought never to keep us away, but instead drive us to God, even if only to lash out. These lamenters also teach us that we must not stop here but go on to embrace the discipline of remembrance. 

The discipline of remembrance calls us to draw from the past—from what we know of God’s faithfulness, what we’ve experienced of his steadfast love. It isn’t easy, but only as we choose to remember, will we find the hope we so desperately need in the anxious moments of our lives. As Jeremiah demonstrates in our passage today, lamenting may be where we begin with God, but remembering is where we must end up. Our peace depends on it. 

Read: Sit quietly and read the passage from beginning to end without stopping. When you finish, read it one more time, asking God to open the eyes of your heart as you meet him here today.

Think: What is Jeremiah’s condition? How does he describe it? What is the turning point for Jeremiah? What do you learn about God from this passage? About how to relate to him? What instructions do you find for difficult times? 

Pray: As you ponder these verses and what you’ve seen so far, ask God two simple questions: Lord, what are you inviting me to understand from this for my life today? Wait on him, and once you think you’ve heard something, ask this: Lord, how do you want me to respond to this today?

Rest: Sit quietly for a couple of minutes or more in God’s presence. Breathe deeply throughout, offering this prayer whenever your mind wanders: Lord, you are my portion-I hope in you. When your time is up, thank God for meeting you in His Word.