If You Search with All Your Heart

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Last night I needed to leave the house late to check on something due to a sudden situation. As I oft do I had the Bible Broadcasting Network tuned on the vehicle radio. While driving under some stress from the suddenness of night such a wonderful song started playing. I have heard it several times before as early as the late 1990s. The song is If You Search with All Your Heart. Listen to it to see if you are comforted.

The 29th chapter of Jeremiah, or portions of it, are sometimes quoted to affirm everything is fine and going to be even better. That context is partially true but does share the entire context of the chapter. Jeremiah gave these words to Jews who had been living under the domination of the Egyptians followed by the Babylonians, and then carried away from Jerusalem into in Babylon itself. Can you fathom what that must have been like, to live under the suppression of your enemies and even having to flee your homeland (paraphrased from Grand Canyon University Theology Thursday)?

Why were the Jews taken into captivity? In short as a nation and as individuals they turned they backs on their God, the one and only God. They took up strange manmade gods. Read all of Jeremiah. It is both heartbreaking and reassuring for those that seek out God.

In the chapter Jeremiah tells the captive Jews they would live in Babylon for at least 70 years. He tells them to settle down, build houses, marry and even pray for the peace and prosperity of the city in which they now found themselves (Jeremiah 29:4-10) and then in verse 13 Jeremiah gives the call to seek God.

Today Jeremiah 29:13 applies to both the Lost and the Saved (Christians).

If you are reading this and are longing for something more in life and have never accepted Jesus in faith to save you and forgive you of all your sin I implore you to do so, today. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7). For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).

Jeremiah 29:13 can also apply to Christians living going through adversity, illness, sorrow. We have many promises that while God may not take those situations away He will be there with us and he has a purpose for us. He will give us peace like none other. 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 29:11). Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7). Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee (Psalms 9:10).

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart (Psalms 119:2).

Words and music for If You Search with All Your Heart were penned by Craig Courtney (ASCAP). The song was commissioned by the choir of Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, Jenison, Michigan (USA) in memory of Brenda Jean Wassink and killed at age 22 three months before she was to be married. Craig Courtney said, “This anthem stands as a testament to God’s sustaining mercy in our times of deepest grief and sorrow.”

The song was copyrighted in 1994 by Beckenhorst Press, Inc. [All rights reserved.]

When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.
When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.

When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.
When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.

For I know the plans I have for you:
Plans of welfare, not of evil.
For I know the plans I have for you:
Plans of hope and a future.

I will bring you out of bondage 
To the land I have prepared.
I will bring you out of bondage,
I will bring you home to Me.

For I know the plans I have for you:
Plans of welfare, not of evil.
For I know the plans I have for you:
Plans of hope and a future.

When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.
When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.

When you seek me, You shall find me
If you search with all your heart.
I will bring you out of bondage.
I will bring you home to Me.
I will bring you home to Me!

Sources: Beckenhorst Press, Grand Canyon University, King James Bible