I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3).
It’s amazing to me how God’s Word is active and alive. It blows my mind that you can read the same verse at different points in your life and receive a fresh application and new meaning each time. God’s Words as captured here through His prophet Jeremiah have always struck me as some of the most beautiful in all of literature. Out of all the books I’ve read in my Master’s in Literature, never have I heard something so romantic, so pure, so utterly tender as these: “I have loved you with an everlasting love”–what human heart does not long to hear such words? What incredible poetry is this!
Lately, I’ve been feeling alone–not lonely, just alone. I had some terrible news recently that’s made me want to pull back, pull inside myself, reflect, and enjoy solititude for awhile. I’ve needed rest. This news has made me realize how much my body aches for rest. This news is potentially life altering and hard to face–but like some amazing romantic gentleman, I hear God’s Words whisper in my ear–”with loving kindness have I drawn you.” How easy it is when we receive bad news that affects us personally and deeply to question God’s motives, to throw tantrums at His timing, to deem Him unloving and unfair. How often we fall into the trap of thinking God is unjust, unmerciful and unwilling to hear our pleas…and yet, when we are still and give him a place…He whispers what our hearts long to hear…He has loved us with an everlasting love–with loving kindness He has drawn us.
This next week will be an intense, busy week for me as I head out to Seattle for work. However, I am looking forward to connecting with colleagues and making progress on our project. At the tale end of the trip though, I am planning time to get lost alone along the Washington coast…to spend time to reflect and just be…no schedule, no agenda…just time to rest and truly appreciate the deep reality of His everlasting love.
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