Peaks and Valleys

Bible Verse:
Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And will bring them all down as fugitives, Even the Chaldeans, into the ships in which they rejoice. Is 43:14

My thought for today is the fact that God claimed responsibility for Israel’s exile and the destruction of His temple, but it was for their own good that this disaster had stricken them. God does not look for ways to taunt us, nor get mad at us. God is a God of love and desires only the best for us.

At times we can be so self-serving that we do not hear God’s call in our lives, nor grasp His rebuke of sin. Sometimes tragedy is needed in order to get our attention.

I know in my own life when all is good and life is flowing in the direction that I want it to flow, I become can become lax in my pray time and half-heartedly go through the motions in study. My heart, mind and body want to enjoy the good life and my sinful nature chooses to set the Source of that goodness aside, ignoring His call to holiness.

When I am stretched to my limits I have nowhere to turn but to God. I know when without a doubt that I can find peace and comfort even in the most difficult of times in the presence of God.

Israel lost their first love, God. They had turned to serving other gods and ignoring the One who was the Sustainer of their lives. Worship and obedience to the Truth had been placed aside and they found themselves as being special since after all they were God’s Chosen People.

God painfully captured their attention by taking them into captivity. It is there in uncomfortable surroundings that they reestablished their moorings and reconnected with God.

God is with us always. Bad things do not happen just to get our attention, but they do. We need to be mindful at all times that God loves us and wants to be a part of every aspect of our lives. He wants our attention so be attentive to His call in good times as well as bad.

Are you struggling? Could it be that God is trying to get your attention? No matter what life throws at you God cares and He wants to be a part of the peaks and valleys of our lives. Invite Him in and smooth out life in the presence of God.

Bob