The prophet of disaster and hope

Well, hello August! And hello Jeremiah!

Jeremiah is described as the prophet of disaster and hope. He’s around in the southern kingdom of Judah in the forty years leading up to the fall of Jerusalem and then during the exile in Babylon. He then has messages of hope – of restoration – for God’s people.

However hard it is for Jeremiah to say what he has to say, he has no choice. The words make him unpopular, but he cannot hold them in.

Thirteen years into the reign of Josiah and the king is still only twenty one years old. Jeremiah is about the same.

And God has a plan for Jeremiah –

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.   Jeremiah 1:5

Just as He has a plan for every single one of us. We are all unique and therefore the role that we play during our time on earth is unique. No one can do it for us. If we don’t do it, no one else will.

And yet we all often have misgivings. Reasons why we can’t. Jeremiah’s is his age.

Alas, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young.  Jeremiah 1:6

I am too young.

I am too old.

I am not clever enough.

I am not significant.

I have nothing to say.

I am not good enough.

No one will listen to me.

But…

But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” 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.  Jeremiah 1:7-8

If God has a job for us to do, then He will give us all that we need to do it – the words, the resources, the opportunity. And He will walk with us into any and every situation. We do not need to be afraid.

I have put my words in your mouth.  Jeremiah 1:9

God reaches out and touches Jeremiah’s mouth and gives him the words to say. Words that will uproot and destroy; words that will build and plant. The right words for the right situation.

God twice asks Jeremiah what he can see. Jeremiah describes exactly what he sees. The branch of an almond tree. A boiling pot, tilting towards the north. God shows this young, inexperienced man a symbol of the devastation that is to come. It is a lot for one young man to bear. It’s a big ask.

‘Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.   Jeremiah 1:17-19

Think of that situation in your life where you’re saying ‘I can’t.’  That situation that feels totally overwhelming. That situation that is terrifying the life out of you.

I can think of one. A relationship in my life which feels completely out of my control. A situation that is asking far more of me than I feel I can give. I don’t feel mentally or emotionally strong enough to deal with it. I am scared. Really scared. I feel God is asking too much of me, expecting too much of me. Over and over my mind is repeating ‘I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I can’t do this.’ Every day I’m having to beg ‘God, help me get through today’ and at the end of the day, I collapse into bed, praying ‘Thank you God for helping me survive another day,’ That feels like no way to live.

And yet that is my reality. Well, a part of my reality, I suppose, but that one relationship is overshadowing everything else. Draining the joy out of everything else. Sucking up all my energy and strength and positivity. Maybe in every situation, God is asking me to describe what is right before me, to live what is right before me – to not spend time ruminating over all that has happened that morning or worrying about what might happen later on. But to live the moment, knowing that God is with me. I have no need to be terrified. With God, I am a fortified city. With God, no one can overcome me. God is with me. God will rescue me.

This is faith. This is trust.

This is how I will try to live today.