16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

Something really important to remember in the face of the challenges of our day. God is always and ever in total control of His children. Our job is not to fear other people, but to fear and trust in Him. 

During Jeremiah’s day of great wickedness among the children of Israel, the Lord pled with them, “Look back to the covenant I made with your fathers. Look back to the instruction and direction I gave them and you for your benefit and learning. It was and continues to be the good way. If you but trust me and follow, you will have rest to your souls and I will protect you from any worldly evil.”

But they didn’t listen. They thought they had the answers. They put their trust in their own wickedness and understanding. They abandoned their God and their protection. 

So God left them to their own destruction. He allowed first Assyria and then Babylon to enter and systematically kill and take captive the children of Israel. God would have been their wall and their defended city if they would have chosen Him. But they didn’t. So He left them unprotected. All in His power. 

Our application for today? We too have a choice. We can put our trust (and fear) in man and men. Or we can trust God and live His way. 

If our fear and trust is in man and if our actions reflect that trust, we are in trouble. But if we are anchored firmly to Jesus Christ, He is our fear and our protection. 

Regardless of what’s going on politically, economically, socially, etc., He is in control. What He asks is, “Do you trust that even (and especially) in the worldly troubles, I am in control not only of individuals but of nations, economies,  principalities, kingdoms, and dominions?”

The real test for us is putting our trust in Him. And that requires action. It requires keeping commandments. It requires standing for truth. It requires submitting to His invitations and corrections. It requires all from us. 

Things might get hard collectively in the near future (prophets and apostles have been warning us). But God is in control. And He has always promised that as we choose Him, He will always choose us. 

Let’s actively choose Him today.