Faithfulness, Faithfulness is What I Long For

God has been speaking to my heart a lot lately concerning faithfulness.

So many times I have found myself paralyzed by the thought/"feeling" of something not being the way it should be.  Logically, as a believer, this should spurn me on to make good of it. Yet, I have often whined and complained about "my lot" instead.

I was speaking with a good friend about a situation I have currently found myself in.  I told her of how I have been tempted to just throw my hands in the air and give up.  She reminded me of Jeremiah 29.  Yes, the eleventh verse ("For I know the plans I have....) is important, but have you ever looked at the context of the chapter?  Verse 4 begins a letter sent King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon.  It says
         This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem
         to Babylon...

Notice especially "those I carried into exile."  The people of Israel were in captivity in Babylon.  What else?  God placed them there!  Admittedly, my first reaction when I see these things is to ask, "Why, Lord?  Why?  Are you not the God of freedom?" 

The letter continues with exhortations to the captive Israelites to "build houses and settle down," marry, plant gardens, have children, and seek peace.  Seemingly strange.  You are in captivity; now, take your coat off and stay a while.  In fact, this while was to be a period of seventy years (v. 10).  During this time the Israelites were to "Pray to the LORD for [Babylon], because if it prospers, [they would] too" (v. 7). 

When I think about the times that I have felt taken captive (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), I realize the farthest thought from my mind was to stay a while.  Instead my body jumps into immediate panic mode.  All of my senses become hyper-sensitive.  There is no fight response, it is all flight.  My mind screams, "ESCAPE. NOW!"  How dare I become captive?  Yet, here God is saying to pray for what I am held captive by, because if it prospers I will too. 

Then, the ever-so-popular verse 11 appears; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to vie you hope and a future."  So often, we quote this verse to people when they are worried, uncomfortable, in poor situations.  Is this wrong? Not necessarily, but should we not be aware of the context?  Verse 12 explains the captivity and why God told His people to continue on in life. "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."  The "then" is so important.  God allows us to be taken captive (not out of His reach though) so that we will realize our need for Him.


God does not waste moments of our life.  He does not waste trials.  God is not wasteful.  Period. 

I believe this passage is a call to faithfulness for God's people.  He knows that we will find ourselves "captive" in one form or another during our life. And, ironic as it may be, He knows that if we spend all of our energy and resources on trying to escape we will find ourselves more bound up than before.  Instead, He tells us to trust Him, to be faithful to Him and to doing what He has called us to do [live life abundantly], and to yearn for Him.  He tells us to use all of our energy and resources on seeking Him - our true escape.

Verse 13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

I'm currently reading "Uprising" by Erwin Raphael McManus.  He relates the importance of faithfulness to God-given potential.  Just like God gave the resources while they were in captivity to be cared for and expected them to use them, He asks the same of us. 




If you want to really understand the next quote, you'll need to read the parable of the talents.  (The link goes to a copy of Matthew 25:14-30. 

McManus says the following:
     "This parable establishes God's measure for our lives.  God sees not only who we are, but who we can become.  When we neglect our God-given capacity, when we refuse to maximize our God-given potential, it is wickedness in the sight of God.  How would it change the work of the church if our measure of effectiveness was not how little sin was being done, but how much good was being accomplished?  We have seen with clarity that a life lived against God is wicked, but have we ever seen as clearly that to live a life beneath our divine capacity is equally dishonoring to God?  To not have that opportunity is tragic.  To relinquish it, to neglect it, to reject it is wicked in the sight of God (pg. 185). 

So basically, if I'm not moving forward, I'm moving backward.  What's my job, even when I'm in captivity?  To be faithful. To embrace my God-given capacity and to run forward in His calling. 

"Faithfulness, faithfulness if what I long for..."

He sure must love me if He hasn't given up on me by now.  Did you know He loves you too?