Session 17

Don’t follow your heart

From Jeremiah: A 33-Day Devotional

No matter how hard we work or save or plan ahead, sometimes the unforeseeable happens. A bad diagnosis. Layoffs at work. A spouse who's had enough. A child who gets in with the wrong crowd. A house that's seemingly falling apart. No matter if it's tragedy or the worst-timing-ever, it can leave us feeling helpless.

Jeremiah shows us two ways of handling these situations: by trusting in our own ability to find a way through or trusting in the Lord. The man or woman who trusts in himself is left "in a salt land where no one lives;" whereas the person who trusts in the Lord is "like a tree planted by the water… It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:6-8). Jeremiah then calls the heart “deceitful” and “beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).

If we understand that we cannot ever rely on our own understanding or intuition to lead us in the best direction, Jesus becomes the obvious choice. With Him, we cannot fail.

But sometimes, even when we do take steps of faith to trust God, our hearts relentlessly question the choice. While we are questioning if God will come through, Psalm 33 shows us what God is doing:

"No king is saved by the size of his army; 
   no warrior escapes by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
   despite all its great strength it cannot save.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
   on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death
   and keep them alive in famine" (Psalm 33:16-19).

Our God is watching out for those who hope in His unfailing love. This doesn't mean hard times won't happen, but it does mean there is a way through them. The Lord will never fail you. No matter what your heart says, He is true. Your faith will not go unanswered.

Reflect:

• What situation do you know the Lord is asking you to trust Him with?
• How have circumstances or your heart made it difficult to do so? What can you do differently?