the aggressive side of God has always confused me.
like Old Testament God. that “wrath of God” side of God.
it is confusing. truly. since I was a bitty girl, I have always been taught how much the Lord loves me and delights in me. so reading scripture about the Lord bringing “great destruction” has always confused me.
and even instilled a little unhealthy fear in me.
but my Jesus loves approaching the hard stuff in me.
He loves tearing down lies and walls that I’ve built up.
over the last week or so Ive spent a lot of time in the “scary” parts of the bible (to me at least).
but as always : the Lord revealed His heart and the beauty behind destruction.
“See, I have appointed you today
over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and tear down,
to destroy and demolish,
to build and plant.” Jeremiah 1:10
at first glance : this just seems down right aggressive and destructive
tearing down and uprooting nations?
destroying and demolishing kingdoms?
what kind of God ordains such chaos and heartache?
sometimes I think God is mean.
but, today I am reminded of why the destruction is necessary.
“to build and plant.”
sweet and simple. but super powerful.
the Lord delights in restoring us. tearing away the ugly parts and instilling beauty in its place.
today the Lord just whispered this truth to me : sometimes restoration is on the other side of destruction.
sometimes I have to tear you down : to rebuild you and mold you into something better, something more beautiful, something that glorifies me more.
today the Lord stripped me of this fear I had that He was a mean God.
and instead He showed me why pain was necessary. and reminded me that sometimes destruction is the only way to create a more beautiful version of me.
today the Father shifted my eyes heavenward.
today I am reminded that the Lord delights in me.
enough to tear me down, and plant something better inside of me.
today I learned that my good good Father is indeed, not mean.
