Rescued from What?

Photo Credit: Shabby Art Boutique

"'...for I am with you to rescue and save you,' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 15:20 (NIV)

We glance across the street or over the backyard hedges and smugly reply, "Compared to them, I'm doing just fine!" But deep within that lie pricks our hearts. Something nags at us until someone or something stomps on our hot button and we explode. Covered in our drippy mess everyone wonders, "Where did that come from?"  

We shrug it off, blame it on the weather, that time-of-the-month, old age, our kids, our spouses, or our unreasonable bosses. And the next time? Well, I think you get the picture.

If we dig a little deeper, get right down to the roots, we're not really "doing just fine!" There's something there that isn't right; something that needs fixing; a heart that needs rescuing.  

We'd love it if Prince Charming rode up on his white steed and carried us away to our happily-ever-afters. We'd even settle for a long, warm, uninterrupted bubble bath! But, reality proves even Prince Charming has his flaws and warm baths grow cold. We know we need rescuing. Our hearts crave it, but what do we need rescuing from and who will come to our aid?

In the land of Jeremiah, God spells it out:

 

“My people have committed two sins:

They have forsaken me, the spring of living water,

and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV)

In other words, their selfish pride pulled their attention away from God and when they needed rescuing they formed other gods - broken, cracked and lifeless cisterns.

Don't we do the same thing? We get so self-sufficient that we forsake God until life gets a little bumpy. Then, the first thing we turn to are idols - friends, our church, spiritual leaders, social media, shopping, food, alcohol, drugs...need I go on?

Our only hope lies in the One who formed us, who knew us before Creation. He's been in the rescuing business since Genesis 3 and He's still rescuing us today. How? Well, it's not the same as riding in on a white horse.

We have to do our part:

  

“'If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me...for I am with you to rescue and save you,' declares the Lord.'" Jeremiah 15:19a, 20b (NIV)

If we stomp our pride into the ground and turn our eyes back to Jesus (repent), God promises He will rescue and save you. Save you from what? Beyond pride and selfsufficiency, it's personal.

Forget about your neighbor across the street or over the hedges. Get alone with God and ask Him to reveal where you hurt the most. Let Him dig deep into your drippy messes and heal your heart wounds - all those things that nag and build and explode.  

Father God, I pray for all our wounded hearts that cause such explosive messes. Forgive us. Forgive us for turning to things rather than YOU. Forgive us of pride and self-suffiency - idolatry. We turn our eyes to you, this moment, and ask that you rescue us. Save us from ourselves, from the strongholds our pride and woundedness create. Free us, Father. Rescue and save us. Amen.