Jimbo's Jots

Every year as the summer slows down, I’m reminded of those families getting ready for another school year. In our family this year, my youngest daughter will be packing up soon to move back to her college campus, Rochester University, for her third year. My wife is realizing that her summer is coming to a close and making the transition to the school year by starting to do some prep for another year of second grade.

For some, transitions and new beginnings are fresh and exciting. They look forward to new challenges experienced and new energy created by facing the next chapter.

Others, though, look at the transitions with worry and anxiety. With the anticipated challenges, they do not see opportunity for growth. They see them as struggles. Some of this is created by past issues in which moments and events of transitions are continual reminders of failure.

The latter group reminds me of the prophet Jeremiah. For those who are unaware of Jeremiah’s lot in life, he was called by God to be a prophet while King Josiah of Judah. Life was good in Judah under King Josiah when Jeremiah started. But after Josiah’s death, Judah’s commitment to God waned and God’s message to Judah through Jeremiah was one of judgement and exile. The people didn’t want to hear it. And certainly they didn’t believe it. The king and religious leaders went as far as to imprison Jeremiah.

But fear not . . . not all is gloom and doom with Jeremiah’s message. Surely, the majority of it is because he was preaching to a people that rebelled against God. But this is also a prophet representing God that spoke of new beginnings.

• “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’” (Jeremiah 31:10, ESV)
• “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31, ESV)
• The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24, ESV)

With new beginnings there is hope, believe it or not! Not by our own might and merit but by the strength of the Lord. And as Jeremiah reminds us,

“Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Jeremiah 33:11, ESV)

Be blessed in the new beginnings! Be a blessing to others in their new beginnings!