Tired? - Weary?

The past three weeks have been difficult ones for my family. My only surviving brother languished in a Veterans Center and was taken off of life support this past Friday. Many events occurred during this process. I have learned volumes about myself, my inner most man, and about the faithfulness, loving mercies and tenderness of God.


His Spirit has been ever so gently standing by me as I cry, try to reason come to some type of consensus about what it means to be the sole survivor of a family of six. I was led this morning to a passage of Scripture in Jeremiah 12:5. This applies to my present condition ~


God asks Jeremiah -

" If you have run with the footmen and are weary,
then how can you contend with horses? "


" And if in the land of peace, wherein you trusted they have wearied you,
then how will you do in the swelling of the Jordan? "


What God was asking Jeremiah, and He is asking every Believer today, if we grow tired of our trials today, what on earth are we going to do if things really fall apart? From where will our strength come? Do we know God well enough, actually trust Him well enough that we can still be effective for His Kingdom and bring Him glory? Will He be honored by our actions and words no matter the circumstances?


I like the commentary in Dake's Bible for these verses ~

If running with the footman has wearied you, how can you contend with horses? That is, if you are overcome and make bitter complaints about your own countrymen who show just minor opposition to you, what will you do when the king, princes, priests and prophets in Jerusalem inflict sufferings upon you?


If in the land of peace where you have been secure and trust to have peace men have wearied you, then how will you ever get along in the swelling of the Jordan? In these times of peace, you have no peace? What will be your peace and security when war or something really terrible happens?


If we put this in context with what our nation faces today, what if there is another terror attack that shuts everything down and we are put under martial law? What if the banks are closed and the economy really tanks? What if there is war in the Mideast and there is no gasoline for our cars? What if we are diagnosed with a fatal disease? These days, as difficult as they have been for my family with the passing of my brother may very well pale in comparison with what may perhaps happen during our life time.


God is bringing me through this ordeal. He has never left my side, even when I spoke out in anger and fear. He is truly an ever present help in times of trouble. This exercise has strengthened me in my inner man. Running with the footmen is only preparation that enables us to run with whatever may come across our path.


We must keep our ears and eyes tuned to the Spirit of God. For most, Isaiah 64:4 sadly applies to life's events, " For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen.....(but for us) O God, beside Thee, what You have prepared for those who wait for You"!


All of our experiences serve a purpose in God's equation. He is with His children every step of the way.