Day 16—Saturday, March 7

Jeremiah 3:15-17

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart,who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

It can be easy to feel lost and unsure at times in our life. Where to go? What to do next? How to feel?

We have all felt this way in our lives. We face uncertainty and big decisions. We need to think of ways to work through them. We listen to others or ourselves. The outcome may cause more hardship than good.

We have an exciting celebration, but feel there is no one to celebrate with. We say yes to a job that brings in more money and great experience, but is not our calling. We offer to be a friend to someone, who only takes our kindness for the betterment of themselves. We put in a lot of work on a new project, but the results leave us feeling unsatisfied. We encounter a joining member of the family, who creates stress instead of happiness. We experience a loss that leaves us unsure of where to go next.

We hope for someone to guide us through these times. That is where I really find these verses fitting these moments. God will find us in all our circumstances, and God will give us guidance as a “shepherd” that speaks to our hearts. We will be led to decide what is best with comfort, and love when we trust in God's guidance. Now it may not feel that way at first. It can be challenging to seek this help or even allow it to happen. It takes us recognizing that it’s okay to trust. When we prepare our hearts for the shepherds' help, we can be led to God's plan for us.

-Sarah Danco