Rabbit Trails & First Loves
I asked God to speak a word to me, then opened up my Message Bible to a place I last left off half a year ago. Jeremiah 170 {gulp!} Already knew it wasn’t going to be an encouraging read!
“Admit Your God Defiance” was one of the nicer subtopics. The gist of the passage was about Israel neglecting their first love, God. There’s a lot of sex talk like “admit your promiscuous life with casual partners…” which got me thinking… while it’s true, pagan sex-religion had seeped into Israel’s “worship” (and in my experience, it’s nearly impossible to find a Christian guy who isn’t expecting sex at some point in a “relationship,”) I saw this passage more as an allegory.
What are our “casual partners” that take our focus off of our first love and lead us down rabbit trails into darkness, confusion, and despair?
How many times do we wander from God due to worry and fear and wonder where he’s gone? I did it just this week when I allowed my circumstances to shadow my hope and forget his promises.
How many times do we run to binge a show, eat or drink just to quiet the loneliness? And don’t get me started on all the time “wasted” scrolling social media or those dating apps as “we turn a deaf ear to God’s decree. ‘Come back, wandering children! I, yes, I, am your true husband…’ “
All rabbit trails that lead us further and further away from what we truly desire! Why do we run to false and counterfeit loves when our true love is waiting? “He is patiently waiting for us to return and when we do “You will increase and prosper in the land.” And the blessings for returning go on and on.
Could simply “returning” to God be the answer to most of our questions and problems? Sometimes when we pray for a word, we may not like the answer, but it’s also because God is calling us back home into a deeper relationship with him because he loves us that much.
Where has your life gotten off track? Maybe it’s time for you to ask yourself, “Lord, in what areas of my life am I being defiant and running to something else instead of you?”
Then take a deep breath and pay close attention, even if you don’t like the answer. For your true love is calling you and waiting.
