When in pain from our own circumstances, this pledge, gives us hope. God reminds Jeremiah the prophet (and us,) during a time of great suffering, that He is God. Because the Lord is who He is, the future for Israel was bright, even though Jeremiah’s time was one of unrelenting darkness. However, dark our day, tomorrow’s prospects are unspeakably bright.
As caretakers, each day can have darkness, particularly if you are dealing with anyone with mental illness. When what we are faced with is distressing, God reminds us that hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible. In the New Testament, we hear a similar Scripture, “For nothing will be impossible for God.” Luke 1:37. Can we take our focus off the problems and onto our gracious God? As you able, anything can be possible.
While God promised Jeremiah that a remnant of God’s people would be restored to the Promised Land, it took many years to see this fulfillment. It is waiting in patient hope and faith, believing that we too will be restored, though not instantly, that helps us trust the Lord. Every moment we walk in darkness, we can choose to live in the light through our actions of faith-filled works with and for each another. Though not easy, living in the light is possible and we are then better able to see God’s tremendous deeds and presence in our lives.
We come to belief that nothing is impossible for God, through spending time in prayer, with Scripture leading us to the true God of infinite compassion and love. Granted, some may be depressed or suffering for many reasons, but the Word of God speaks of hope, love, courage and so much more. The psalms are a great place to start, if you are not familiar with the Bible. There are many psalms that ask God to be our safe place, our guidance and comfort in times of trial. As we pray with the ancient words of those who have gone before us, our hopes lift us to the light and we are renewed, even if only temporarily.
Caretaking, both exhausting and overwhelming, can have us feeling we are a bad person, when we are feeling burdened. When we are overextended for prolonged periods, with many ups and downs, we cannot give from an empty place. It is vitally necessary to prioritize your own well-being and self-care. Listen to your own voice, your own soul, as to what you need. Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness and yet become something beautiful.
May we be inspired with excerpts from John O’Donohue’s poem, A Blessing of Solitude – “May you recognize in your life the presence, power and light of your soul. May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have special destiny here, that behind the façade of your life there is something beautiful, good and eternal happening. May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.”