“Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not My word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. Psalm 107:21-22 NKJV.

“You now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” John 16:22 NKJV.

In our chapter, Micah 2, Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, speaks truth about what causes the woes and sorrows we experience; are they not our own hearts bent on doing harm? Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. v. 1-2. And what do we hear so often? “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.” You descendants of Jacob, should it be said, “Does the Lord become impatient? Does He do such things?” v. 6-7. And in the mess of this broken world, then and now, can we hear God? “Do not My words do good to the one whose ways are upright? Lately My people have risen up like an enemy. You strip off the rich robe from those who pass by without a care, like men returning from battle. You drive the women of My people from their pleasant homes. You take away My blessing from their children forever. Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy. If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ that would be just the prophet for this people!” v. 7-11. And always, with warning away from what causes all of our harm, the way that brings healing is given. “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.” v. 12-13.

What about now? Do you remember being a child with curiosity and hope and love for the flowers, the butterflies, snow, playing new games with family and friends? At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” Matthew 18:1-5. Little children don’t hurt others. Their expectation is love. One day we’ll understand. And until that day when Jesus, the Son, returns, we can make the decision to take Jesus’s hand, step onto that sacred path to walk with Him. And on that path with Him, we walk hand-in-hand with Him on holy ground that brings healing. We begin with His help to return to that simpler time when our expectation was to be loved; and with curiosity and hope we see differently. With His help, we can even begin to long for His love to touch every heart. And, like little children, we trust Him. We stop trusting only in ourselves as we begin to understand that it’s the hardness of our own hearts that needs to be broken. Only Creator God’s love can break through the hardest hearts. And we stand before Him, on Holy ground of His love. And we marvel anew, like little children untouched by hardened hearts, at all our Creator God is doing! He will bring healing to us and to His creation…how can we not hope and rejoice in Him?