When Faith Feels Hard
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 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.” Jeremiah 29: 12-14
There was a time where I had this verse written on the top of a planning calendar. I was trying to encourage myself to “get back on track” during a season of postpartum depression and anxiety. I was determined to continue to find God’s purpose in my life, I truly wanted to see my world through His eyes. When I felt as if I was being obedient and faithful, but the circumstances were still challenging, I would repeat this verse. I wanted to have this promise embedded in my heart. But there is more to it than just being able to memorize the words.
Years later, I was reading through this passage again and the verses that followed really stood out to me. Now that I had hidden this promise in my heart, I needed to take action. God wasn’t asking me just to sit on this and wait on Him anymore. He doesn’t wave a wand over you and the yellow brick road appears. He doesn’t just turn the weeds into roses. He certainly can do all of these things if it is His will. He is all-powerful, and there is God’s favor, make no mistake. However, there is also our cooperation needed. We need to look to Him and do our part daily to grow. In Jeremiah 12 He tells us to seek Him with all of our hearts - key word here is ALL.
There are times when we may notice we feel restless and irritated day after day. Or maybe we are waking in the middle of the night with the same nagging thoughts. It is in these moments we need to call upon the Lord. He is trying to get our attention, He is asking us to seek Him. Not just with part of our hearts while we hold onto the rest. This lack of peace is caused by us holding onto our own will.
There may be something you are still trying to control. A situation where worrying is more comforting than surrendering. He is asking for you to call upon Him instead. The words in verse 13 are so clear, “inquire and require me.” That should burn in our hearts just as well as “plans and prosperity.” I am starting to learn there are no blessings without my full surrender. The most peaceful place I can be is when my heart is seeking Him, and my posture is that of requiring Him in every part of my daily life.
