Jeremiah 14:19-22

“Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.” vs. 22

For all his jeremiads Jeremiah never gave up on God. His country was in terrible condition, beset by drought and foreign invaders, but he knew the evil wasn’t God’s fault. All their trials were a consequence of their wickedness and iniquity and Jeremiah made no excuses. There are times when we too are appalled by the horrendous calamities that have become so commonplace in our world and freely offer our complaints to God. And unlike Jeremiah, some people go on to blame God for all the problems. They say, “How can a good God allow all these horrible things to take place? Children are dying, what’s wrong with God?” Some of these go further and give up on God altogether. They want nothing to do with such a nasty and vengeful deity and would rather have no God at all. Jeremiah knew better than that. Almost all of the horror our world experiences comes as a result of our lust for power and wealth, and our insatiable hunger for violence and terror. Our one hope is that the God who established our world as good would equip us to act in loving and generous ways. Indeed, that is what God is doing. Hearts are changing! When our eyes are opened we can see it happen.

Thought for the Day:  Where do I see changed hearts? Has it happened to me?