Calling Out for Revival!

I thought about a passage in Jeremiah today, it seems to fit our present circumstances:

 Is God no longer in Zion? Has the King gone away?… The crops are in, the summer is over, but for us nothing’s changed. We’re still waiting to be rescued. For my dear broken people, I’m heartbroken. I weep, seized by grief. Are there no healing ointments in Gilead? Isn’t there a doctor in the house? So why can’t something be done to heal and save my dear, dear people? * * *Jeremiah 8:20 (MSG)

Jeremiah was able to articulate the frustration and grief the children of Israel were experiencing. If we had a Jeremiah today, they would probably be penning some of the same sentiments.

This coronavirus has been raging for over a year now. In a couple of weeks we will remember the day that severe restrictions were put into place. It’s hard now to think of a world without masks, without social distancing, where we can’t go to the movies, or to packed out concerts. It’s hard to remember a time when you weren’t suspicious over the health of someone, even of your own family members.

Suspicion, fear, rejection, are a part of our everyday lived experience. The days of “just dropping by” someone’s house is long over. The packed out arenas when a big-named celebrity came to town – don’t even book anymore. We have yet to see the effect that this isolation will have on our society, especially our children. Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician who can heal our wounds, both physical and emotional?

What is the remedy:? My simple faith tells me no antidote in the world will heal the many broken-hearts and confused lives in this nation alone. What it does tell me is that we have a society that will be ripe to hear of hope, of unconditional love, of acceptance without reservation. It sounds like to me we have a society ripe for revival:

Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
⁶ Won’t you revive us again,
    so your people can rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation. Psalm 85:(NLT)

Maria