As you live from one day to the next, there will be times your faith is tested. There will be things that will occur that don’t appear to make sense. When this happens, it causes you to wonder how did this happen?   When you try to make sense out of what took place, it moves you to shake your head. You find yourself in a place of despair, because nothing seems to make sense any more. When you see negativity overtake that which is positive, it almost brings you to tears. Because, it is breaking down the moral fiber of people. If this continues to happen and is not addressed, life as you know it will begin to dissipate. These are all the thoughts that begin to run through your mind based on the evidence that is before you. This is exactly what the enemy wants you to do and that is lose sight of God and begin to focus on the problems. If this occurs, then you are not functioning in a manner that is pleasing in the sight of God. In essence you are not moving forward in faith, but have been captivated in the moment.

In Lamentations 3:25-26, Jeremiah is sharing words of encouragement to those in captivity in Babylon. I can imagine Jeremiah looking at the people, and seeing nothing but hopelessness. Many have come to believe the Lord has given up on them. They have arrived at this conclusion because they have been removed from their homes. Their cities have been burned to the ground, the king has been captured, and the temple of the Lord has been destroyed. Through all of this evidence you can see how they have a hopeless attitude. However, in verse 25, Jeremiah says, “the Lord is good to those who wait for Him.” When many of the people heard these words, the immediate response by some may have been, what am I waiting for? Everything I owned and cared about has been destroyed, but you are telling us, the Lord is good. They can’t see anything good, because they are drowning in despair. The challenge for those in captivity is to realize they made this mess, and the Lord could no longer allow the mess to grow. So, everything had to be removed in order to draw their attention back to the Lord. Saints, it’s easy to have faith when things are going in your favor. But, when things begin to fall apart, are you able to function by faith, knowing the Lord is good? If you are able to do so, then you will wait on the Lord. This is what Jeremiah is conveying to the people not to give up, but have faith and wait on the Lord. This waiting is not you just being still and doing nothing. You are constantly praying, because this will help maintain your focus on the Lord.

In verse 26 it says, “it is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” This verse explains the purpose of the captivity, because while they were in Judah they were not attentive to the will of the Lord. They did not see or understand the magnitude of what they were doing wrong. By being in Babylon all the distractions are removed, and they now can give the Lord their undivided attention. Now if they want to experience the redemption power of the Lord they must make the following adjustments; know the Lord is good, wait on Him, and give Him their undivided attention. By doing as the Lord instructs, they are setting themselves up for success. You don’t fall into success, it requires effort.

Is it hard for you to believe the Lord is good, because of the things occurring in your life? The Lord never said it would be easy, but you have to decide. Which one will get your attention, the issues you are going through, or the Lord who is bigger than your issues. By moving in faith you are letting the Lord know He is good, and you are waiting on Him and His redemptive power. Why are you doing this, because success requires effort. Continue to walk in your blessings.