“You, Adonai, are enthroned forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do You always forget us and forsake us for so long? Bring us back to You, Adonai, and we will return. Renew our days as of old—”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Have you ever felt overlooked or ignored? I have. More than once. But when I feel like the Lord has forgotten me? Well, that’s a loneliness that cannot be described. 

For years I’ve had some deep, deep longings. Words have burned within me, pressing against me to escape, and the vocal injury resulting from the 2018 trauma only heightened the feeling. 

While the author of Lamentations is unknown, it is widely believed to be Jeremiah. In the final passage of the book, he cries out: “šûḇ ēl Yᵊhōvâ” – literally “bring back my heart, Jehovah.” 

I can imagine it in my mind. Jeremiah – a man who obeyed and followed G-d only to be rewarded for his obedience with captivity, beatings, and rejection – crying out to G-d: “Bring back my heart.”  

It’s a cry I recognize and a cry I echo as we grieve some things on a deeply personal level. You know our hearts Lord. You see the desire within. You surely gave us this longing. Bring back our hearts Lord. If the prayer was good enough for Jeremiah, it’s good enough for me. 

I will wait because I know You’re good, You will keep doing good, and that I can trust You to finish that which You’ve started in us. 

Father – thank You for Your Word.  Bring back our hearts. You see and know our desire. Bring it to pass in Your way and in Your time. Help me to trust You. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: Lamentations 3:37-5:22

August 26, 2022