What Can We do in Difficult Times?

Jeremiah 33:1–13
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Jeremiah was imprisoned, yet God gave him instruction in prayer. What can we do in difficult times? God invites us to call on Him. Like Jeremiah we can respond to God’s invitation to prayer. 1. His prompting - “Call on me” (v. 33a). 2. His promise - (v. 33b). (a) “I will answer thee” (b) “I will show thee” 3. His provision - “Great and mighty things which you do not know” (v. 33c).

Let’s look at some examples of answered prayer from Scripture: Hannah prayed, and God gave her a son, Samuel. Elijah prayed and it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years. He prayed again and the rains returned. On another occasion, Elijah prayed and God consumed the sacrifice that had been drenched with water (1 Kings 18:37-38). Elisha prayed and God gave life back to a dead child. Samson prayed and God gave him back his strength. Paul and Silas prayed and the prison they were in was shaken and the jailer got saved! Jesus prayed a brief prayer, and Lazarus came back from the dead.

1. Judgment: (vv. 1-5) tells us that God will judge His people. Jerusalem’s houses will be torn down so their stones can be used to repair the city. In their battle with the Babylonians, the streets would be littered with the dead bodies of Jerusalem’s defenders.
2. Restoration: (vv. 6-13) He will restore His people in an incredible way (v. 6). One day God will bring health and healing to the land that had been so severely judged. (v. 6). First, the blessing will involve restoration to the Land. (v. 7). He will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. Second, the blessing will involve a restoration to the Lord. (v. 8). He will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Third, the blessing will involve a restoration to a special place among the nations (vv. 9-13).

Application

God is ready to answer my prayers but I must ask for His assistance.