I’m writing this devotion at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, and one of the very outer bands of Tropical Storm Elsa just brought down some hard rain within my area. At this time, the storm is expected to hit our area of Florida as a Category 1 Hurricane later this evening. A hurricane, for those who live in Florida, should always be a reminder of God’s power over all His creation. I never think there are coincidences on this earthly journey, rather I believe God’s divine timing is perfect, just as He is perfect. So, I love when He allows me a glimpse of His perfect love as a reminder that the heavenly realm is truly operating in tandem with the earthly realm. I envision all of heaven’s army is constantly rooting for me to hang onto the fact that I am truly not a resident of this earth, rather I am an eternal resident of heaven. So, I want you to image how big my smile was when I read today’s passage and saw the title, “Hope Despite the Disaster”. I have hope as I sit in my home, and as I just heard and saw God’s Mighty Power through this first band of the storm. Now, things are quiet, and my attention is drawn to the next section of today’s passage which is titled, “Jeremiah’s Prayer of Confidence”.
This entire passage is the perfect reminder that God is always in control of all things, and just as He is not finished with His people of Israel, He is also not finished doing His work through you and me. So, we must bow before the Lord’s Mighty Power, give thanks to Him for being our strength in the storm, and repent for anything we have put before Him.
Jeremiah 16:14-21 (NLT)
Hope Despite the Disaster
14 “But the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ 15 Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ For I will bring them back to this land that I gave their ancestors.
16 “But now I am sending for many fishermen who will catch them,” says the Lord. “I am sending for hunters who will hunt them down in the mountains, hills, and caves. 17 I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me. 18 I will double their punishment for all their sins, because they have defiled my land with lifeless images of their detestable gods and have filled my territory with their evil deeds.”
Jeremiah’s Prayer of Confidence
19 Lord, you are my strength and fortress,
my refuge in the day of trouble!
Nations from around the world
will come to you and say,
“Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage,
for they worshiped worthless idols.
20 Can people make their own gods?
These are not real gods at all!”
21 The Lord says,
“Now I will show them my power;
now I will show them my might.
At last they will know and understand
that I am the Lord.
Prayer: Jesus, tonight’s storm is a reminder of Your power and the fact that only You are in control. I submit to You and trust that in this storm, and in all of life’s storms, that You will carry me through them. I call on Your strength and peace to fill and surround me when this world tries to rob me of those eternal promises. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.
Written By: Jen Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant