Jeremiah 16:  1-2 "The Word of the Lord came to me saying, You shall not take a wife..."

The prophet had suffered much because of the ministry that had been given to him.  He was preaching an unpopular message to an unrepentant people about an unavoidable judgment. Where could he find a place of solace, and who could be a source of comfort and blessing? His family? To add sorrow to his current ministry misery, he was commanded not to marry and have children!

Sometimes in our circumstances the only place we can find comfort and joy is at home with our family.  Our family often serves as a respite from the many troubles in the world, a place of blessing and encouragement.  But in this case, because of impending judgment, he would be subjected to great sorrows.  And if he had a family, they would also be subjected to hardship, and this would have made his sorrows unbearable (vv. 3-4).  Thus, God's command was a revelation of His mercy and not meanness!  We wonder at times why God does not allow us to have certain pleasures, promotions, or "blessings" in our lives.  Is God being unkind, just wanting to make us miserable?  NO! Instead, He is loving, and later the prophet will declare that "His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lam. 3: 22-23).

Jeremiah could not fully appreciate God's counsel at the time, but what he could do was--trust and obey.  Eventually, he would see and realize God's plans and purposes are always right, wise, and best!  Will we spend our lives complaining about what God has NOT allowed us to have as compared to others?

Will we be full of envy of those who have, which will only cause us greater misery?  Or, will we spend our lives thanking Him for His faithfulness, trusting His wisdom above our own understanding, resulting in gratitude for a life of peace and joy? 

We can choose to have joy...or NOT.  Choose JOY!

In  Christ,
Tommy Middleton

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