March 28

The Soul's Amen

This was in order to establish the oath I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is to this day.” “Amen, LORD,” I answered. — Jer 11:5 BSB

Jeremiah was aware of the powerful flow of Divine energy that surged through his soul. The word had come to him "from the Lord," and he felt it like a burning fire he couldn’t contain. He had to release it, but once the message left his lips and he reflected on it, he responded by saying, “So be it, O Lord!”

The soul's response. We must be careful not to misunderstand. It's not always possible to say “Amen” to God with joy and excitement. Sometimes, our response is soaked with tears and choked with sobs that we cannot control. Abraham likely felt this way when he left Ur of the Chaldees, waited years for his promised son, or climbed Mount Moriah. Some reading this may be enduring constant pain or living a life tossed in the storm of anxiety and care. These might question whether it’s possible to say “Amen” to God’s plans, or wonder what use it is to speak a word that the heart doesn’t fully agree with.

In response, we should remember that our Lord, in the garden, was content to align His will with God’s. He knew it was enough if, even in the depths of His human nature, He could say, “Not as I will, but as You will.”

Dare to say “Amen” to God’s plans, even when your heart and flesh feel weak. If your will submits, your heart will eventually follow, and as time passes, something—a turn in the road or a series of events—will make you realize that God’s way was right all along. The assurance of our Guide is this: “What you do not know now, you will understand later.” Trust Him, and in the strength of that trust, say, “Amen, O Lord.”

Prayer

For all things beautiful, good, and true; For all things that seemed not good yet turned out for good; For all the sweet pressures of Your will That pursued, tested, and shaped us to Your image— We thank You, Lord.