And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ” What great news! The prophet Jeremiah declares here that we can all find God. He's there, and we all have access to Him. Fabulous! But wait! That's not exactly what the Prophet says. Yes, he tells us that those who "search" for God can find Him and, presumably, He will then become active in the heart of the seeker, in the life of the one who has "found" Him. However, significantly, Jerimiah doesn't suggest that this game of "hide and seek" is to be an easy one. No, a casual "seeking" is not what he prescribes. On the contrary, the Prophet says that God is found by those who "seek" Him with "all their hearts"-rather than those who casually wonder whether He's there.
The 19th century author and abolitionist, Harriet Beecher Stowe, wisely noted, "Human nature is above all things lazy." Likewise, the 20th century Christian evangelist, Nee T'o-sheng once said, "People who are lazy, careless, doubtful-minded or arrogant need not expect God to reveal His secret or covenant to them." God wants a relationship with His creations, with His "children" (Acts 17:28-29). He wants to "reveal" Himself to us, and he wishes to actively guide our lives. But those who question the existence of God will not discover the truth of His existence and power by simply "wondering" if He exists. Jeremiah tells us that God want's real disciples; He wants devotees that are 100% in, and who are willing to pay the "ultimate price" to know Him. Casual thinking about God is not what Jeremiah says makes it possible to "find" God. Rather, one must really want to know if He exists, and want to know what He is like. To paraphrase Luke 10:27, finding God really does requires that we "seek" Him with "all of our heart, might, mind, and strength." Anything less than that is "spiritual laziness," and carries no promise of spiritual discovery.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
