Hide and Seek

When I was little, I was constantly yearning to be heard. One of the reasons I believe I was so close to my mom was that she would be the only one willing to listen. My dad was a good father, but sometimes his goal was to quiet down my cry and put a smile on my face. "Give her whatever she wants" was his way of solving things. (Trust me, He was a great dad, and y'all be hearing about him in the future) saying no to me was not his strong forte. My mom, on the other hand, would sit me down and listen to me cry. Then she would explain to me why I couldn't get the toy or why I was being punished. Then she would process things with me. I felt that she cared for my problems no matter how childish they were. She helped me manage my anxiety as a young child. As an adult, I continue to struggle with anxiety, but I have learned skills to manage it and take care of my mental health. One way to do that is Learning to manage a healthy spiritual life.

One day I was reading the scripture. I went looking for

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

I am sure many Christians are familiar with this verse or consider that their life verse. It is a powerful verse which is why I went looking for it. First, however, I was curious to know the rest of Chapter 29, so I continued. I remember being in my teens, and the following verses grabbed hold of my attention, and since that day has become my favorite and my life verses and the verse that I will preach about today.

"12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. [a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

-29:12–14 NIV

The book of Jeremiah is a biography of the major prophet Jeremiah. However, it continues letters written by him. The portion that we read and focus on today is part of a prophecy Jeremiah wrote to the elders of the exile, the priest, the prophets, and all Nebuchadnezzar's people into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

The letter was written from Jerusalem and send all the way to Babylon **SLIDE**

While the book of Jeremiah was being written from 626-580 BC

-715-605 Judah was struggling with idolatry and obedience,

-627-588BC Jeremiah was an ongoing prophet,

- 605 Daniel is exiled to Babylon

597 Jerusalem revolts against Babylon

605 Nebuchadnezzar invades Jerusalem for the first time

In this specific time of the letter, God's chosen people, the Israelites, were not following God's commandments. They had abandoned entirely what God had taught them. Instead, the people began to have rituals and be into pagan worships. The things they were doing were hurtful to God and were hurtful and harmful to themselves. And the beloved children of God, God himself, were hurting. Therefore, God told Jeremiah, his servant, to warn them to stop going in the "wrong direction." God could for-see what the action would do to the people. King Nebuchadnezzar was going to capture them, force them out of Jerusalem and lead them to Babylon, where they would once again be slaves and under foreigners' authority. God so loving told Jeremiah to let them know what was going to happen and to warn them.

Earlier in the book of Jeremiah, some of the letters were from God telling the people to turn back from their sins and return to their true God. But, unfortunately, they did not listen; therefore, the letter warning them what was yet to come was written. They were going to be captured, and God knew that.

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Jeremiah 29:12

"12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

During that time of misery and paying for their sins, they will call out to the living God. Rather than saying, "I will close my ears to you" or "I will give you my back," God is promising that he will listen. You see our God, was madly in love with His people. Which is why He was asking them to turn back to Him. And even though they disobeyed God, His love is grand that even then, He will listen. He will be there for them.

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Jeremiah 29:13

"13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

My favorite part of the verse! The word "seek" means to earnestly try to encounter the presence of a deity; often involving requests or petitions to the Creator." God wants His people to know that they will earnestly cry out to Him when they are in exile and suffering. Look for Him, and not only will they seek, but He will be found by them. God will not turn His back. He will face them and show Himself to them. All this is a promise that God is making with His people.

-One thing that I would like to point out is the word "heart" is used as a noun, and it is the subject of this verse. It is referred to an internal feature and the place of a person's thoughts (mind), will, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong (conscience), understood as the heart. This is where God is saying that the people should look for Him with our everything.

Jeremiah 29:14

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"14 I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. [a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

The Lord is promising that He will be discovered by them. Their search will not be in vain, not unsuccessful. He will be found by His beloved people. There was one thing that really intrigued me as I was studying the words in this particular verse. In the passage, the term "declares" happens twice. The original translations it has two primary definitions. It is to assert and thanksgivings through acts. Second, the form assertion is saying something absolutely (without doubt and clearly).

In the same way, the word is showing an act of expressing gratitude or appreciation for someone. In verse, God is declaring/promising without a doubt that He will be found by them. Of course, this after they seek him with their hearts. But let's pay attention to the fact that by declaring that He will show himself to the Israelites, God is showing gratitude to them Through His presence. The love of God was and is so grand to His people that the way to show His thankful for his people's faithful in seeking for Hum is to show up. The more that I sat and studied this verse, I understood and would like to explain that this is an example of causation. (The action of causing something) This often happens in the bible, which helps us in our relationship with God and lives a Holy life.

By seeking him earnestly with our whole minds, will, and all that we are, God will show up. Sometimes I have heard friends and family and other brothers and sisters in Christ saying that they feel ignored by God. That no matter what they nothing happens, nothing changes, and they feel distant from Him. We are not meant to seek him on our own. The people in Jeremiah had letters from prophets with instructions; we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit. He is able and more than willing to pray with us to show us how to earnestly look for God. These are the actions seeking him, and the cause of that will be God being discovered by us. That is a promise that God made to the Israelites that would soon be captive, but it is also a promise he is making. Who also may be confined. Not necessary like those in the bible but from harmful, detrimental, or chronic sin we found ourselves in.

As my first sermon to my new family in Christ this morning, I want to share hope with those praying and seeking a miracle but are feeling forgotten and even unseen.

I remembered one day two years ago, I found myself feeling stuck. I had come from California to serve God and thought that me moving, I would be hearing His voice and seeing Him move every day. It came to the point where my prayers were empty, and I would feel lost and confused. Sitting on a rock, I opened to this favorite verse, and I decided to be honest and open with GOD. One of the most sincere prayers that I had ever made was, "God, you are not enough for me. You are missing in my life. I think that I know you, but I don't, think that I have out, but I don't. You said you are more than enough, but to be honest, you are not to me. Prove me wrong; prove me you are more than enough." Months after, I began a journey of realizing who God really is and how distant I had gone from Him. But I know that it was because of those honest prayers and my belief in this verse. I sought God with all my heart and freed me, rescued me, and makes me fall in love with Him even more. I am not here to be a miracle worker or to preach the prosperity gospel. I am here to lead you more into the arms of your loving God.

This morning I want to encourage those who feel ignored, abandoned, and hopeless. Seek your Father, or should I say continue to seek Him. Ask for help., I will be more than glad to walk with you in your spiritual life. Make sure you ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray and guide you. You are not alone in this. You are seen and loved by Our Loving God.

As we begin this journey together as Christ's family, let us lean on each other with love and honestly as we together seek and find God.