Restoring Love and Trust

S

(Jeremiah 50:20) In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none. And in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

O

Those days and that time describe God's restoration of Israel and Judah after His judgment and anger were fully vented--exhausted--on them for their sins (Lamentations 4:11). This is a picture of what Jesus absorbed for us on the cross. The result is complete amnesty, total exoneration for the remnant of people that choose to receive Christ's substitutionary sacrifice and His unmerited restoration.

A (Personal)

Wow! I want to be like this remnant in whom God Himself found no wrong: "In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion [God's kingdom], with faces turned toward it, saying, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that shall never be forgotten' " (Jeremiah 50:4,5).

A (Psychological)

Hargrave and Pfitzer (The New Contextual Therapy, 2003) have documented that the disastrous effects that come from violations of love and trust include psychological and relational pain. Specifically, as those violations remain untended (productively) and unresolved, the individuals move deeper into unhealthy feelings and actions. As the feelings become more extreme, the individuals experience rage or shame (or both). As the actions decompensate, the individuals grasp more desperately for control or surrender more deeply to chaos. The only way out of these prisons is through legitimate restorations of love and trust in relationships (pp. 36-37).

P

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for venting Your wrath onto Your Son so I might be accepted. Restore us to Yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days according to Your original images so we might live with strength and peace, with love and trust, in Your eternal kingdom (Lamentations 5:22,23).

Deliberate Health

S

(Isaiah 62:1) For Zion's sake, I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and her salvation as a burning torch.

O

Following this verse, Isaiah revealed his justification for making all of his public declarations. This justification served as motive, method, and goal: his positive and irresistibly beautiful goal motivated him keep speaking and it shaped his words. It kept him from giving up and withdrawing into silent despair. In verses 1-5, his justification for prophesy, Isaiah listed eight divine destinations (note that he did not list eight condemnations). Love, therefore, spoken well, keeps people's focus on God's goals.

A (Personal)

When I'm frustrated by myself or others, I want to reconstruct my words so I focus on what Isaiah focused on: being a living demonstration of God's (1) righteousness, (2) salvation (wholeness), (3) glory, (4) fitting title (name), (5) beauty, (6) benevolence, (7) delights, and (8) joys. Now that is worth talking about. That is good news indeed.

A (Psychological)

DeShazer, whether intentional or not, has developed a therapeutic model on that basic concept (Prochaska & Norcross, Systems of Psychotherapy: A Transtheoretical Analysis. 2003, p. 463). "Therapy begins by focusing on goals in the present that can construct a better future." Once the problem story is told, the therapist is prepared to shift the focus to solutions ("When the problem is solved, what will you be doing differently?) and exceptions ("How is what you will be doing differently happening some now?" or "When isn't the problem happening"). The all-significant difference, though, is that that God's goals many not be immediately apparent to clients or therapists who are focusing merely on the client's goals ... although that may well lead to the insight that God's goals are the hidden roots of everything good that people desire.

P

Lord, in the midst of failure and disappointment, it's all to easy to focus on the problems instead of the destiny You provide. You are so encouraging! Help me to be an encouragement to others today, too.