Is There a Worry You’re Ignoring, Repressing, or Encouraging?

Jeremiah.

AKA the weeping prophet.

Diving into his book doesn’t sound super uplifting.

Especially with this vague, nagging sense of uneasiness in my soul.

But chapter one surprises me.

The Lord calls Jeremiah to be His prophet.

First though . . . before Jeremiah receives or delivers prophecies, the Lord says, “Look!”

Twice.

Followed by, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

Both times.

And, just like that, important conversations begin . . .

About what Jeremiah sees before him.

And what God wants him to see there.

So begins Jeremiah’s life of prophecy.

I consider turning the page to begin chapter two, but Look! feels important.

As if the Lord is speaking not only to Jeremiah, but to regular people.

Like me.

Look! Cindy.

I determine to do a better job of taking note of the circumstances, scenes, and people I meet in my day.

And talking with the Lord about them.

Which feels like a valuable rhythm, but I’m not sure I’ve seen what the Lord wants me to see.

Yet.

So I press on through Jeremiah.

Prophecy after prophecy for an ancient people.

Until, without warning, Look! pops up again.

Stand at the crossroads and

Look!

Ask where the good road is.

Walk in it.

And you will find rest for your souls.

(Jeremiah 6:16 EHV)

Perhaps you’re at a crossroads.

A place of decision.

I don’t see mine.

Maybe because I passed the fork in the road a while ago.

Just kept walking.

Head down.

On the other road.

Oblivious.

Which makes Jeremiah’s next prophecy feel personal.

When [a person] is on the wrong road and discovers his mistake,

he goes back to the fork where he made the wrong turn.

(Jeremiah 8:5 TLB)

The thing is, though, I’m still in the dark.

What fork?

What mistake?

Does it have anything to do with the uneasiness in my soul?

Turns out it has everything to do with that, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Despite the fact that thousands are practically trampling one another to get to Jesus, He turns to His disciples.

With a personal message.

“Do not be anxious about your life . . .” (Luke 12:22 ESV)

No context is given.

Perhaps they’ve expressed worries.

Or maybe, like me, they just have a vague uneasiness.

Jesus continues.

Pointing to what He sees.

Look! at the ravens . . .

Look! at the lilies . . .

(Luke 12:24,27)

Familiar verses.

Tangible pictures of the Father’s provision.

So am I anxious?

Is there a worry I’m ignoring, repressing, or encouraging?

Embarrassingly, yes.

To all three.

I hadn’t realized how much space in my soul is occupied by anxious thoughts about the future.

Specifically my future.

And possible scenarios playing out there.

Worries that just sort of slipped in unnoticed and started talking to me.

Louder and louder.

Until I started listening.

Believing them.

Walking in step with them.

Down the other road.

I picture myself returning to the fork.

Standing there with Jesus.

Looking!

Paying attention this time.

Following His gaze down the good road.

Where lilies nod in the breeze.

Ravens soar among the clouds.