Make the best of it.

Based on Jeremiah 27-29, Titus 3

"Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron." Jeremiah 28:13

Hananiah was a false prophet, telling people that the wooden yoke which Jeremiah wore as a sign would be broken. The yoke was a sign from God that His people would be subject to the Babylonians, but Hananiah didn't listen. He broke the yoke off of Jeremiah, and so the above Scripture was stated in response. Instead of accepting the captivity under Babylonian rule, he made it that much more difficult & wore the iron yoke of death! We should never reject God's plan, even if it seems challenging...because God's yoke is easy & His burden is so much lighter than the iron yoke of the world! And God always makes a way for us to make the best of any season of life-even captivity-if we just surrender to Him!

"Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;"

Jeremiah 29:5

If Hananiah had listened to the Truth, even if it was hard, he would have been taken care of in captivity! God would have allowed him to build houses, plant gardens and eat the fruit of his faithfulness...just like the others who listened & obeyed! There would have been a way to make the best of it by following God's plan FIRST!

"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:10‭-‬11

God's plans for us are always beautiful! There's something special on the other side of that struggle-but only if we let God lead! When we think we have it all together, we make the worst of it, iron yoke & all. But when we trust God's Word & pray, He makes the best of it & sees us through to the other side!

"And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." Jeremiah 29:14

"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." Titus 3:1‭-‬2

When we are obedient to God & respectful of those in authority over us, like in our nation for example, we make the best of things. It may be very challenging considering the state of things lately, but God is in control!