Jeremiah 31:20 (AMP)
Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a darling child and beloved? For as often as I speak against him, I do [earnestly] remember him still. Therefore my affection is stirred and My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy, pity, and loving-kindness for him, says the Lord.
She sat looking out the window, a single window in a room that was too small to contain her. With a spirit that was way big. A spirit that was meant for good but because of youth and lack of wisdom she did not have the needed strength. Strength that would allow her to stand firm against the wiles of the enemy, prevented her from making good choices. Choices that caused her to be cooped up in this prison of a room, instead of being outside and free like the birds of the air. For a minute she thought, when I get out I will be like the bird…free…never again will I not think. Until then she had no choice but to be content and live out the punishment.
She thought about her grandmother who she left behind. She cried silently knowing how much her Nana will miss her because she was missing her so much too…if only – she thought to herself. If only I had listened to my Nana all these years. Then suddenly as if wanting to give her comfort “virtually” she saw her Nana walk up to her with the saddest look on her face – a look that said “child, I told you this would happen.”
Her Nana sat beside her and hugged her close to her bosom and for a moment she did feel comforted. Nana started stroking her hair, telling her not to worry. That God still loved her despite everything. She then gave her some words of comfort from the good book as she would lovingly refer to the Bible. She reminded her of the passage in Jeremiah 31:20 that said Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a darling child and beloved? For as often as I speak against him, I do [earnestly] remember him still. Therefore My affection is stirred and My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy, pity, and loving-kindness for him, says the Lord.
Nana held her face between her shriveled, shaking hands and kissed her cheeks which were wet from tears.
“Child, God never forgets us, he knows your heart better than I do. He sees your ways but loves you unconditionally. He is waiting on you to call out to him. He is full of kind and loving mercies that he wants to give you in return for your pain. His heart bursts with longing wanting you to come to him, waiting on you to come.”
As quickly as her Nana had come, she disappeared and once again she was faced with her stark reality for the next 3 months. She reflected on Nana and knew she was not alone and that God was with her. She felt a peace and a strength that she never knew take her over. She knew then that she would survive with God by her side. She laid back on the hard cot feeling only softness as she turned over and went to God in quiet whispers.
