5/1 Strength for Today

Dying by Your Desires

Jeremiah 42:22
“Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.”

An unfortunate statement is made in the verse above that I fear happens way too often. The statement is, “...ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.” Notice that it was Judah's desire to go back to the land of Egypt. For years Israel had fought the battle of going back to Egypt, and now God was going to give them their hearts desire. The only problem with them getting what they wanted is that they were going to die in the very place they wanted to go. They ended up getting what they wanted, but they were going to lose everything they had to get it.

Quite often Christians desire and complain to God about something they feel that God should give to them. The problem with this desire is that if they were to get this desire God knows that it would only cause heartache in the end. They may end up getting what they wanted, but they will not like the results.

I have watched people want a position on the job and do everything to get that position only to regret that position later on in life. That position did not give them what they wanted. I have watched parents want their children to play sports in the public school system only to regret that decision because their children end up breaking their hearts by living a worldly lifestyle. I have watched people want something different in their marriage only to realize after getting what they wanted that they hated it for the rest of their lives.

Christian, be careful about complaining to God about not giving you something you really want. God may be sparing you from heartache that you just cannot see. God knows what is best for all of us and He will give us what is best if we will trust in Him. If you complain and murmur long enough like the people of Judah did, or if you pursue your desires without God working things out for you, then He may just give you what you want only to see everything you love taken from you.

As the Scripture says in Hebrews 13:5, “...and be content with such things as ye have...” Stop trying to get your way all the time, and trust God that He will give you the things that you truly need in life. Don't try to have your way so much that God gives you what you want, but you then lose everything that you have.