“There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.” — Clare Boothe Luce

On the 29th chapter of the book of the prophet Jeremiah, a famous verse stands out as one of the most quoted passages in the Old Testament:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This verse is often highlighted during religious schools’ commencement ceremonies. It serves as a fresh reminder that God promises a better future to those who love him, even in the bleakest days.

In that passage, Jerusalem had fallen into the hands of the Babylonians. Judah was devastated, and, as God had promised through the prophets, the Babylonians took the Jews into captivity. Jeremiah was left behind and heard that false prophets proclaimed that the captivity would be short-lived to the exiles.

God’s word came to Jeremiah, directing him to write a letter exposing the false prophets: the captivity would last a long time, and the people must be ready to respond appropriately.

There are diverging opinions among scholars as to the exact dates of the 70 years in Babylon. Some believe it refers to the years 605-535 B.C., which marks the first deportation to Babylon and the first exiles’ arrival back in Jerusalem after King Cyrus’ freedom decree. Others demark the 70 years between the last deportation and destruction of King Solomon’s temple, and the year its reconstruction began after the arrival of the first caravan of exiles back from Babylon. Another possibility is that the 70 years refer to a generation — or lifetime — since the number seven relates to “completion,” “wholeness,” or “perfection” in the Bible.

Regardless, all scholars agree: God himself sent his people to Babylon due to their willful, unrepenting, enduring idolatry, and rebellion. It was designed to be a time of introspection and change — a time for the people to move forward, but in a new direction.

The Babylonian captivity was designed to be a time of introspection and change — a time for the people to move forward, but in a new direction.@AJC #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional
Click To Tweet

As one starts reading the 29th chapter, God did not begin his admonition to the people by promising a quick delivery. Instead, his instructions revealed their stay’s longevity: They were to move forward with their lives, while in captivity. They were to build houses, plant crops, marry, and have children. Furthermore, he directed them to seek peace with their oppressors and pray for the heathen nation that enslaved them.

Only after giving them directions concerning their lives in captivity did God promise to deliver them from their foe. “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

“2020 — the year when life stood still.”

That may be a caption under many people’s stories this year. It seems as if we have been taken captive into a time bubble where uncertainties, chaos, and strife reign.

As I read Jeremiah 29 a couple of weeks ago, the passage’s background made me think of our world’s current situation, as the tentacles of COVID-19, political and civil unrest threaten to keep our society from moving forward.

Yet, when I thought about God’s instructions to his people, this principle provoked my mind: God does not expect us to stand still, fearfully waiting for changes to happen. He wants us to move forward by faith; doing the things we know to do, trusting that the one who has allowed these troubles to assail us is more than able to deliver us from them.

God wants us to move forward by faith; doing the things we know to do, trusting that the one who has allowed these troubles to assail us is more than able to deliver us from them. #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation #moveforward
Click To Tweet

As Matthew Henry writes in his commentary: “(The Israelites) cannot but sometimes weep when they remember Zion. But let not weeping hinder sowing; let them not sorrow as those that have no hope, no joy; for they have both.”

Indeed, for those who trust God, there are no hopeless situations. Seemingly hopeless circumstances are like Israel’s captivity — designed (or allowed) by God, not for evil or to harm us, but rather, to mold us, cleanse us, and sharpen our faith.

May God help us move forward, even as the fog of uncertainties disrupts our vision.

Seemingly hopeless circumstances are like Israel’s captivity — designed (or allowed) by God, not for evil or to harm us, but rather, to mold us, cleanse us, and sharpen our faith. @AJC #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional
Click To Tweet

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, Septembher 26, 2020. Click HERE to read it on the AJC’s website.

The post Forging Ahead Through Crisis {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

At around 538 B.C., the Jews started returning from Babylon after 70 years of captivity. As God’s chosen people returned from exile, it was clear that the insidious, pagan practices of their oppressors permeated the Jew’s lifestyle and worship. Therefore, each prophet had been entrusted by God to admonish his people to abandon their rebellious and idolatrous ways in this postexilic era of Israel’s history.

Haggai and Zechariah’s messages confronted the Jews concerning their neglect of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, as well as their false and profane worship. Malachi was the recipient of the last prophetic message before the 400 years of “silence” between the Old Testament prophets and the birth of Jesus Christ. The purpose of his message was to confront the Jews with their sin and announce judgment against unrighteousness.

As one reads the book of Malachi, however, the message of judgment is intertwined with God’s promises and the grace he vowed to offer, even while judgment was poured out. The central message of the last book in the Old Testament speaks of a breach that is not irreparable and a hope that is not lost. God wants to bridge the gap, and even his judgment is full of grace.

God wants to bridge the gap, and even his judgment is full of grace. @AJC
Click To Tweet

I thought about God’s grace to us during trials as I came across one of the messianic references in the third chapter of Malachi:

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” (Vs. 2-3)

The message was directed initially at the Levites, whose primary role in the temple included singing psalms during services, performing maintenance, security, and construction. However, as it is often the case with scriptures, the imagery offers a beautiful parallel concerning God’s methods and purpose for our trials.

The passage inspired me to research how silver is refined and purified. I found out that since ancient times, there are several methods of silver refining, and most of them are similar to the process of refining gold.

One of the earliest methods is called “cupellation,” and it involves heating crude silver at extremely high temperatures until it is liquefied and adding certain substances such as nitric acid to help absorb the impurities. Once the pollutants are consumed, and the temperature is just right, the liquefied silver should become as clear as a mirror. According to tradition, when the silversmith can see his/her reflection in the metal, it is ready to pour. Both the temperature and the moment to take the metal out of the fire must be precise, or it could destroy the silver. For that reason, the craftsman must “sit” as the verse in Malachi says, and carefully manage the process, tempering the metal until it’s ready, controlling the heat and timing.

What a powerful metaphor of God’s wisdom and grace! The vision of a skilled silversmith watching over the intensity of the fire should make us understand and trust God’s hand in the heat of the great trials that we must face in life.

Just as the silver does not know anything but the heat applied to its rough form, we too often do not understand why God allows the temperature of pain and suffering that some of life’s circumstances bring.  But the melting and transforming of silver from crude metal to a beautiful substance that can be used to make useful vessels, mirror the process used by God to mold us so we can become powerful tools in His hands.

Just as the silver does not know anything but the heat applied to its rough form, we too often do not understand why God allows the temperature of pain and suffering that some of life's circumstances bring. @AJC #MondayMotivation
Click To Tweet

Oh! What a marvelous thought to reach the end of a trial and realize that the Father – the Master Craftsman of the universe – sat beside us the entire time! Indeed, He watches over the furnace, ever aware of how much heat to apply and how long we must stay in the fire, so that all impurities may come to the surface, and He can see more of His reflection in us.

Then and only then, can He use us as His vessels and tools to carry out His purposes in the world.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday,  November 9, 2019.

The post Making Silver: the Heat of our Trials {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.