Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Divine correction is inevitable. Both Proverbs and Hebrews tell us that God chastens us, but He also allows our own sins to correct us as well. God is speaking here to His backslidden people. He tells than that turning away from Him is not only evil, but bitter. Forsaking God will always result in bitterness. He tells than that the root of their forsaking Him is due to an absence of fear of Him.
Beloved, this does need to be your testimony. Learn to allow God’s Word to correct you. Learn to allow God’s Word to guide your life. When bitter times fall upon you, don’t get bitter. God is working in your life, both to will and to of His good pleasure. Whenever we think we are wiser than God or smarter than the devil’s traps, we end up drifting from Him and reaping the consequences of bitterness. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his ways. Many precious people are being tried and tested on “the other side” of repentance. The “price” for their rebellion is a bitter pill indeed. But allow the grace and power of God work in you and through you to bring about that peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Dear child of God. If you are going through a season of correction. Do not focus on why, but Who is allowing this come to pass. Let His hand do His perfect work. Look up at Him Who hung on that cross. He doesn’t play games with your life. Nor should you. Submit to Him. Trust in Him.
