All is not lost, there is hope

ter I studied the Old Testament in my theology coursework, I shared with one of my Chaplains in the military that it completely changed my perspective of the Old Testament. Many times, I have read the entire Bible in a year and I would sometimes dread the reading of portions of the Old Testament. It always felt so bloody, and bleak-and I am a warfighter! Then something happened, when I started studying instead of simply reading, I started seeing the Old Testament as one love story after another. So many times, we humans, God’s children have turned away from God. We have worshipped false idols, we have disobeyed clear commands, we have committed one sin after another even after personally witnessing God’s miracles. What does God do? God continues to forgive, to give us hope even after we fail Him time and time again. Has there ever been a better love story written? One of the major prophets Jeremiah warns the kingdom of Judah of their upcoming demise and invasion from Babylon. But his message does not end there, he shares a message of hope, of God’s love. “Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13, NIV). Even in delivering the message of darkness to come, God has Jeremiah give His people a message of hope and restoration. How is that not a beautiful love story?