July 23, 2001
"If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? "
Jeremiah 12:5
I saw some encouraging things this morning... Jeremiah consistently takes his heart to God and he prays very honestly. He pours out his feelings, questions and doubts and God honors this. God is never down on him. Between the end of chapter 11 and the beginning of chapter 12 he faces two difficult things. He discovers that his own his own townspeople, people he grew up with, friends, perhaps even family were plotting to take his life - ouch! That would be hard to handle but, he takes it to God and is secure and confident that God is in control of his life and will deal with the people, he doesn't need to take matters into his own hands. Next, in verses 12:1-4 he is again facing hardships and as he looks around it leaves him with questions about God - how is it that the wicked seem to be doing okay?? Why do their lives seem to be at ease? What is God doing? God never faults Jeremiah for asking, rather he honors the fact that he is honest with God about what's going on in his head and heart. God does answer him, probably not in the way he was expecting of course... God tells him essentially in verses 5-6... "You think it's hard now, it's about to get harder." God doesn't do this to discourage him -- God always tells us the truth and sets the right expectations, even when they're going to be hard, He does point Jeremiah back to the promise a the beginning of his calling - one that's no less true for us today whatever we happen to face.
"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. "
Jeremiah 1:8