Jeremiah was young, probably 20-ish, when God gave him an important job to do. Important, yes. Glamorous, no. Barely an adult, Jeremiah was to be an unpopular voice in an out-of-control culture. He probably felt too young, unqualified, and lacking in self-confidence to command the stage in front of a hostile crowd.
God said, “Whatever. Do it anyway.” (That would be a paraphrase; the following is not):
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ‘Ah, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you … ” ~ Jeremiah 1:4-10a
I’ve been asked to do some tough things in my life …
- To say “no” to my kids when all the other parents are saying “yes”
- To speak the truth, even when there’s a good chance I’ll be misunderstood
- To miss out on some pop shows and movies because they don’t leave my heart and mind in the right place
- To give up career advances and accolades to be more available to my family
- To put my dreams on hold in order to cheerlead someone else’s
- To stand up for what I believe is right, even if it means I lose friends in the process (yes, even church friends)
It’s tough. I’ve been criticized and questioned, and many times I’ve caved. There are times I just want to FIT IN. I don’t want to do the tough stuff. I’d rather take the easy road, because the easy road is a party, full of friends, laughs, and three cheers for tomorrow.
But the tough road is lonely.
Jeremiah knew it. He may have been young, but he wasn’t stupid. In spite of what he knew was to come, he pulled out his courage and decided to obey rather than cave, without any promise of reward other than …
“I am with you and will rescue you.”
It was enough for Jeremiah. Is it enough for me? For you?
- Day 218 (Monday): Zephaniah 1-3
- Day 219: Jeremiah 1-3
- Day 220: Jeremiah 4-6
- Day 221: Jeremiah 7-9
- Day 222: Jeremiah 10-13
- Day 223: Jeremiah 14-17
- Day 224: Jeremiah 18-22
What a great post. What great encouragement that someone so young chose to follow God in the midst of darkness and fear. It’s so easy to do what makes us fit in, and so tough to leave the busy road. I’m struggling with staying on the tough road, the road without all the hollywood glamour, the road where sometimes I feel absolutely alone. But it’s so important because it forces us to seek God in our lonliness, though sometimes I find myself sitting on the road instead of continuing the journey. Fear takes away my fire, my spark, my energy to follow Him with everything I have and to be content on the lonely road. Yet that quote is beautiful “I am with you and I will rescue you”
That says it all.
Many thought Jesus was Jeremiah. Both wept over Jerusalem.
Jeremiah was young and frightened. That fright can go to the other end of the spectrum too for those who are on the “senior” side of life.
In our “society” it seems that only those who are in the middle are worth listening to. HOW UTTERLY WRONG.
I want young people in my life. I need the spark, excitement and energy they have and the creative ideas they come up with, wow.
Don’t count out the wisdom us “seniors” have. We have been through it and come out on the other side, in one piece. Ask us how we did it and we will tell you.
Being used of God has nothing to do with age, that’s our hangup. God calls all of us and uses those who say, Here I am Lord use me.
I think you’re right … age is our hang-up, not God’s. How wonderful that he’s used the young and old alike (and everything in between!) to accomplish great things!