Jeremiah 33:1-9. While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: 2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ 4 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword 5 in the fight with the Babylonians: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness.
6 “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. 7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. 8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. 9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’
What do you do when you find yourself in trouble like the prophet Jeremiah, who was locked away in the courtyard of the guard despite having done nothing wrong? In those moments of confinement and crisis, before you seek counsel from anyone, remember the Word of God that has come to you through your local church and your daily worship (Jeremiah 33:1).
The first step in overcoming any trial is to remember exactly who your Father is. He is the One who made the earth, formed it, and established it—the Lord is His name (Jeremiah 33:2). When you realize that the Creator of the universe is the one in control, you understand that nothing is too hard for Him. With this absolute assurance, all you need to do is call to Him. Your Father has promised that when you do, He will answer you in ways you could never imagine, revealing remarkable secrets and unsearchable things about the future that you do not yet know (Jeremiah 33:3).
God uses these seasons of trouble to open your eyes to the spiritual reality of a world covered by darkness and stricken by disasters (Jeremiah 33:4-5). He intends to use your life to declare His remarkable secret: the mystery of Christ. Wherever you carry this gospel, God brings health, healing, peace, security, and forgiveness. In the process, your life becomes a vessel that brings Him renown, joy, praise, and honor before all nations. The world will witness the good things God has done for you, and they will be in awe of the abundant prosperity and peace He provides (Jer 33:6-9).
Thus, do not be discouraged by your present circumstances. Crises do not create a person’s character; they reveal it. Just as an able captain proves his skill by navigating through a great storm, your troubles are an opportunity to discover the true color of your faith in Christ. When the storms of life rage, do not try to avoid them or overreact in fear. Instead, believe that God allows these trials to mold you until you are perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Use these challenging times to renew your strength, align your life with God’s plans, and strain forward toward the goal He has set for you.
Turn every worry into a single, focused question: “What is God’s will in this?” You can have absolute confidence in approaching Him because if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14). To maintain this connection, you must let go of the scars of the past and any grudges you may hold. When your heart does not condemn you, you gain a boldness before God to receive what you ask because you are doing what pleases Him—believing in Jesus and loving one another (1 John 3:21-23).
Connect everything—every meeting, every event, every person—to the Word of God. Jesus promised that if you remain in Him and His words remain in you, you can ask whatever you wish, and it will be done (John 15:7). Just as a branch receives life-giving nutrients by staying connected to the vine, you will bear fruit when you are connected to Christ through His Word.
Most importantly, pray in the name of Jesus. This is the name that broke the power of Satan, removed the root cause of your problems, and brought you into the kingdom of light. When you pray in His name, your prayer is powerful and effective, and God mobilizes His heavenly host to accomplish His plans (Heb 12:22; Jas 5:16).
Never be discouraged in prayer. Even when you are too weak to find the words, the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with wordless groans, knowing exactly what is on your heart (Rom 8:26). Ultimately, prayer is the awareness and enjoyment of the presence of God. When you realize you are living in the presence of the One who created everything from nothing, your worries will cease. You will find that He Himself is your greatest reward, and being alone with Him in worship will become your greatest joy.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for answering my prayer and revealing great and unsearchable things to me. I surrender my circumstances to You and ask that You use my life to proclaim Your message of healing to all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.