“The Lord Says, ‘Do Not Fear!'”

“The Lord Says, ‘Do Not Fear!'”
“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people. How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations…” These are the opening words of the Lamentations of a prophet over the ruins of Jerusalem and it’s desolation. Those of us who travel through, or live in some of the once booming and flourishing anglophone towns of our beloved fatherland have often burst into such lamentations.
And when we have wiped our tears, we may be stupid or naive enough to ask, “How did we get here?” As if we did not see it coming or as if we have not (in)directly been part of the making!
Whoever at this point still thinks there is no anglophone problem in this country or whoever is hellbent on giving cosmetic solutions to the crisis is himself/herself the problem! The prophet (Jeremiah?) in his lament recognised that what generated the political crises which led to the destruction of Jerusalem was a spiritual crisis! This is how destructive sin can become!
He asked the question, “Why should a living man complain when punished for his sins?” The question is for you and I too! Rather, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven and say, ‘We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven…You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through…'”
Yes, it is important to lift up our hearts and not just our lips and hands to God. Let our eyes “flow unceasingly without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.”
All our rhetoric will come to nothing because nobody “can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed.” It is from his mouth that both calamities and good things come.
Whatever justification we are giving for the cosmetic positioning that is keeping us in this flux is a justification of our unrepentant hearts.
However, the compassionate God has not closed his ears to any cry for relief. He is near and says, “Do Not Fear” Things go better someday! (Lam.3:3744 &49-50 & 55-57).
Therefore, “Examine Your Ways, Test Them And Return To The Lord!”
Weekend prayer: Lord we have sinned and brought this destruction upon ourselves. Forgive us and save us and our land. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!