August 25th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Jeremiah 15:15-21
O Lord, you know;
   remember me and visit me,
   and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
   know that on your account I suffer insult.
Your words were found, and I ate them,
   and your words became to me a joy
   and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
   O Lord, God of hosts.
I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
   nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
   for you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain unceasing,
   my wound incurable,
   refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
   like waters that fail.

Therefore, thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
   and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
   you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
   not you who will turn to them.
And I will make you to this people
   a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
   but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
   to save you and deliver you,
says the Lord.
I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
   and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

Reflection
Jeremiah is one to complain and complain to God boldly and loudly. Likewise God will return the response boldly and loudly.

We all tend to complain. I complain and you complain as well. The pain of living can be sharp and on-going. A pain that never seems to cease or go away. Yet, you look around and see people who are not in pain and live joyful lives. Why? Why do some people suffer and other people endure pain?

It's been like this throughout history. But the key, it seems to me, that God is suggesting, is that with God we can endure the pain. With God we can focus. With God and not on our own can we live this life of pain and this life of joy. For in our perspective, we only see a part of it all. In God's perspective the pain and the joy all are part of life. If all of life were joy, I'm sure I would find the pain. I would find something to complain about and I would complain boldly and loudly to God just as Jeremiah.

This is not to ignore the reality of pain or lessen the complexities of pain. Pain is real and our endurance lasts for only so long. Then we must turn to God. And yet this turning to God is just what God seeks and waits upon. God wants a relationship with us in the midst of pain and in the midst of joy.

Therefore, thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
   and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
   you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
   not you who will turn to them.

Oh, how we resist the turning back to God. But God will always take us back. Especially when we realize that we need God with all of our life.

One thing we can rest assured throughout all of our bold complaints...

for I am with you
   to save you and deliver you,
says the Lord.

That's God! That's my Savior!
Thanks be to God!

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPkh1Cgbh4U

Prayer
Lord, hear my bold cry from the midst of this ongoing pain and suffering. As I turn to you, I look for your deliverance... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen