Disdainful sniffing ∙∙

Disdainful sniffing ∙∙

“You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of Heaven’s armies. – Malachi 1:13

Jeremiah 29:12-13

12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Anhedonia is a rare and unusual word. What does it mean? It refers to the inability to find joy or satisfaction in activities that once brought pleasure. It’s as if the brain’s pleasure center has switched off. Or has it? Perhaps it is more like a rheostat light switch, indicating a reduced capacity for pleasurable experiences. Regardless, the result is often a sense of boredom and indifference where there once was enthusiasm and passion.

David, a man cherished by God, was passionate about spending personal time with the Father. He yearned for it like a thirsty deer (Psalms 42:1). However, determined, defiant disobedience entered his heart, and the wind was knocked out of his sails, leaving him deflated.

In our fast-paced, distraction-rich lives, it’s all too easy to lose connection with our limitless, magnificent, and delightful Father God. We can turn away and dismissively turn up our noses and disdainfully sniff at Him and the things that matter most to Him (Malachi 1:13).

When this occurs, which sadly is far too frequently, how do we reconnect? Merely wishing for a better situation or making superficial displays of interest won’t suffice. The issue is never with the Father. He is always there and accessible, longing for closeness with His children. What’s required is diligence, determination, and wholehearted focus. As Jeremiah puts it,

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

The book of Jeremiah was written against the background of the Babylonian captivity of the nation of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple (586 BC).

Regrettably, the history of Israel is sadly replete with rebellion and defiance against the Father. Time and time again, the Father dispatched His prophets to warn the people. Jeremiah himself prophesied impending doom for decades. Eventually, judgment arrived, and the Babylonians invaded Israel in three consecutive waves: 605 BC, 597 BC, and 586 BC. A large portion of the Israelite people was slaughtered, and thousands were taken as captives. These were grim, bleak, and somber times. All hope for that generation seemed extinguished. It was the dark night of Israel’s collective soul. Anhedonia dominated their consciousness.

REFLECT & PRAY

The judgment of God may come slowly, but it will come! Yet, judgment is seldom the final chapter; often, it is only the beginning.

Father, thank You for Your plans for me and those dear to me. Our future is secure because of You.

INSIGHT

For an exhausting 28 chapters, the Book of Jeremiah echoes with prophecies of destruction and despair. But after the judgment arrived, God completely transformed the message. He flipped 180°, an astonishing reversal.

Out of the suffocating darkness and gloom, a radiant light of hope broke through. God began speaking of renewal, grace, joy, and an extraordinary New Covenant, overflowing with promises that stood in stark contrast to those given through Moses. It was as if Plan M (M for Moses) had run its course. It was tried, and the results were always the same: failure. The people’s failures showed it was time for a new way forward. It was time to switch to Plan N (N for New).

Jeremiah, the seasoned prophet, once the bearer of solemn warnings, came to voice some of the most beautiful and cherished promises found in the entire Old Testament. Undoubtedly, even Jeremiah himself must’ve been awestruck by the wonderful assurances uttered through his lips at the Father’s direction.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Nothing that had transpired was unexpected or ambiguous. Every event unfolded as part of the Father’s perfect, eternal plan. He has always known how things would unfold and turn out. The Father’s purpose has always been the ultimate good for His people. He has no desire for endless calamity, loss, heartbreak, or failure.

This is Who the Father is. This is the Father’s way. It clearly demonstrates the essence of His heart. The problem has never been with Him—He consistently desires the very best for the children of the King. The real issue arises when His children do not want the best for themselves. Instead, they settle for far less. Trading the abundant good He offers for fleeting and shallow pursuits. As long as name maintain this mindset, they will never fully step into the goodness He longs to give.

The same holds true for every child of the King today. The struggle lies in surrendering our limited, paltry, shortsighted desires and choosing to hunger for and seek after His magnificent best. Only then can we experience the fullness of what He has prepared for us.

The story of Israel is a collective reflection of the struggles we all face. It mirrors our individual personal life experiences. Their missteps and triumphs serve as profound, valuable life lessons for those who seek to walk in the Father’s will.

As 1 Corinthians 10:11 reminds us, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn those of us who live at the close of the age.”

When the period of exile drew to a close, not everyone longed to return to the land of promise. Many had grown comfortable with their lives as they were, finding satisfaction in their current circumstances. Because of this, they didn’t pursue the Father with their whole hearts. Only some made it back to the land, and the prophecies were fulfilled only in part.

Have you, too, settled for something less than God’s best? Have you disdainfully sniffed at the Father and halfheartedly pursued Him with lukewarm devotion? What blessings might have you overlooked and left on the table?

How do we cultivate a hunger for the Father’s best? How do we move from our present state to the fullness of what He offers? How do we transition from where we are now to where we could be? The answer is simple yet deeply challenging. We must seek Him with everything we have. We must be all in. Half measures won’t do. We must hold nothing back, no compromises, no reservations. When we seek Him with all our hearts, He will hear us. And when we find Him, He will lovingly restore us.

Jeremiah reminds us in 29:13-14:

13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
14 I will be found by you, says the LORD.

Our fallen nature so often distorts our priorities, leaving them out of sync with the Father’s will. But He remains both a loving Father and a sovereign King. He desires an intimate connection with every child of the King, but it is our responsibility to draw near to Him. The invitation is always open—He calls us to come closer.

Isaiah 55:6 urges us: “Seek the Lord while you can find him; call on him now while he is near.”

The question isn’t whether He is ready to meet us; the question is whether we have the courage to seek Him with our whole hearts.

If we learn from these lessons, we can avoid the common mistakes made by ancient Israel and receive the blessings the Father desires to give us.

¯_(ツ)_/¯ 12-02-1