March 10

Jeremiah 2:4 – 13

Link to Bible Verses: Jeremiah 2

Discernment: requires prayer and time, sometimes a lot of time

Again, I struggle when scripture passages such as those in Jeremiah 2:4 – 13 are interpreted as God punishing people; however, I have no doubt that life can be harder without God.

With that said, though, living with God is not easy work. It requires intention, a slower pace, humility, faith… I could go on and on with all that this Way asks of us. Arguably, central to all that is asked of us, though, is discernment. Cultivating a quiet inner world tuned to God takes time and intention, but we reap benefits beyond compare. Discernment betters our chances of being led, of finding the next loving thing to do, and of finding and revering the divine spark in all of creation.

In the last verse of this passage, we read, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” All that precedes in today’s reading comes down to these two sins, and as I read them, I can’t help but wonder what might have been if these people had spent time discerning, spent time in relationship with God, the spring of living water. If they had allowed themselves the time to be in communion with God and discern the Way of God, perhaps they might have discovered the natural well within, the well that doesn’t break, and the well that quenches our innermost being.

Thank you to Linda Land-Closson for writing our 2026 Lenten Devotions.