Have you ever laid in bed at night and thought, “well, this was just a wasted day?” Maybe you had big plans and nothing worked out. You yelled at the kids, the store was out of the one thing you went there for, and the whole day was just a bust. Then, at the end of the day, you feel like a failure.

Or, possibly, it’s even bigger than that. Maybe you feel like you have wasted years. Your job of twenty years is deleted. A relationship you thought was forever turns out not to be so. Someone leaves this world way too soon and you think, “what a waste.” You feel empty and alone and, oh yeah, now it’s Christmas.

Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, “It is a waste without man or beast,  in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant of beast…” – Jeremiah 33:10

Holidays can sometimes highlight negative feelings. If you have endured a loss, it is even more painful during this time. If you are alone, every jewelry commercial seems to mock you. It’s as if you are living in one big wasteland.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste… – Jeremiah 33:12

The fact is that there are some waste places.

But our wasted places can become places of joy.

In this place of which you say, “It is a waste without man or beast,  in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant of beast, there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing… – Jeremiah 33:10-11

Our wasted places can become places of peace.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks. – Jeremiah 33:12

There is no denying the pain and loss. Sometimes, we find ourselves in places of waste. Wasted moments. Wasted opportunities. Wasted hopes. Wasted years. It’s a lonely and desolate place to be.

Today, I’m praying that God will fill all of your wasted places with joy. With peace. With himself.

You are loved.