When the Going Gets Tough

"If you have raced with men on foot and the have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?"
Jeremiah 12:5

Jeremiah's life was extremely difficult despite his love and obedience to God. When he questioned God about it, the answer was basically: "if you think this is bad, how are you going to cope when it gets really tough?". Not all God's answers are nice and easy to handle! Yet, He is our loving father!

God is interested in forming our character. Hardships and difficulties train us to develop qualities like patience, endurance and faith. When the going gets tough and prayers don't get immediate results, know that God is at work. He stretches us to make us strong!

May we take this as a call to pray for those who are discouraged, failed or fallen. May He reveal himself to those who are far from Him. May his perfect will be done in us.

No Guilt Found!

"In those days, at that time declares the Lord, search will be made for Israel's guilt, but there will be none and for the sins of Judah but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare."
Jeremiah 50:20

How good if the Lord could say the above about you and me! It is not that Israel and Judah never sinned. All that they did is recorded in the Bible! However, they humbled themselves before God and they were pardoned. When God forgives, He does not remember any sins committed by anyone!

We, who live on this side of the cross, have the blood of Christ to cleanse us of our sins. How easy for us to get such a good testimony from the Holy God! Jesus said: "For this is My blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins." [Mt. 26:28]. Again, there is a promise given: "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" [1 Jn. 1:9]

Won't it be great to get that clearance certificate saying "No Guilt Found!" on the day when we stand before the King of Kings?