Prayer Journal
Sunday, August 20, 2000
"Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked." Lam 3:8
Jeremiah was not feeling well on this day. He is the author of the book of Lamentations and if you want a sense for the depression he felt, just read chapter 3 through verse 18. Lamentation means, "the outward expression of grief" and now you know why Jeremiah was called the "Weeping prophet".
If you were to tell a doctor the same thing Jeremiah wrote in 15 verses, you'd be diagnosed as clinically depressed. Not only that, you'd probably be placed in an isolation ward to keep you from harming yourself.
Seldom did Jeremiah stay in the spiritual dungeon, however. He had one resource that even the deepest, darkest depression couldn't steal. It's called "prayer" and a few verses later he reveals his hope; "I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea.." 3:55,56a
Voltaire, the French writer and philosopher once said, "When we have lost everything, including hope, life becomes a disgrace and death a duty."(1) In view of such a conclusion, it would seem to me that "hope" is the essence of Christianity and prayer the delivery mechanism. Just Thinkin'.. WebServant
(1) The New International Webster's Pocket Quotation Dictionary of the English Language - New Revised Edition. Trident Press International, (c)1997 J. Radcliffe; pp91
(2) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
