Unchained Melody

Published August 7, 2026

Friday, August 7, 2026 | Sherry Thorn

Jeremiah 32

God asks a hard thing of Jeremiah—to prophesy to the Israelites that they will indeed go into captivity, and that God is not changing His mind.

In 586 BC, Jeremiah's prophecy was realized. The Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians. Psalm 137 laments their bondage: "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres" (Psalm 137:1–2). The music died.

When in your life did the music die? I've never been taken captive by an enemy nation, but I've been brought low. Haven't we all faced life-shattering moments when down feels up and even taking another breath requires great effort?

The character of God can be difficult to trust in hard seasons. It is easier to believe the enemy's lies—that our future is decided and the devastation is complete. But in our darkness, God's promise whispers like a silver lining in a storm cloud:

"Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers" (Jeremiah 31:4).

In my darkness, God sat with me.

Whether our suffering is self-inflicted like Israel's, or simply the collateral damage of living in a broken world, we all encounter disappointment and pain. Will we believe the enemy and surrender to fear? Or will we believe the God who not only sits with us, but—if we are willing—takes us by the hand and leads us out?

The music didn't die.

It only paused.

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