Jeremiah 15

Some of my favorite scripture is in Jeremiah.  I just relate with much of the emotions that Jeremiah exudes.  The unbelief that God would use someone as young as him and as ill equipped as him.  The struggle with going to hard places.  And the worry of safety.

My favorite in all of Jeremiah is in chapter 15.  In one of his many times of doubt and struggle he verbalizes his issues to God so well.

"Lord you know I am suffering for your sake.  Punish my persecutors!
Don't let them kill me!  Be merciful to me and give them what they deserve!  
Your words are what sustain me.  They bring me great joy and are my heart's
delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.
I never joined the people in their merry feast.  I sat alone because your hand
was on me.  I burst with indignation at their sins.  Why then does my suffering
continue?  Why is my wound so incurable?  Your help seems as uncertain as 
a seasonable brook.  It is like a spring that has gone dry."

The Q right now paraphrase of this scripture

God I'm broke and feel really alone and I don't understand this health stuff I'm 
dealing with.  How can everyone else be doing so good when I feel like I'm 
struggling.  Your call that you gave me is all that keeps me going.  The fact that 
you call me your son and want to use me in your story is where I find my 
deep joy and satisfaction.
I'm not chasing things of this world.  I find myself alone a lot because of this 
call.  I've tried to show how to live in faith to the world.  Why do I feel so 
bad?  Why can I not feel any relief?  I feel like I'm riding a roller coaster 
waiting on your blessing.  And the car is stuck upside down."

But here is God's amazing response to Jeremiah.  And his response to me this morning as I read through this scripture again.

"If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me.  
If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman.
You are to influence them; do not let them influence you."

How beautiful is this.  God calls us to come close to him and he provides restoration for our souls.  He knows they will get beat down in our pursuit of him and the proclamation of his gospel.  Then he calls us to speak worthy words.  

It simply goes this way.  Draw close to God.  Speak His truth.  Influence the world.  

Sounds simple, but I'm pretty sure we will find ourselves coming back to God many times.  Whining and struggling with what is going on in our world.  God will be there to center us and encourage us and send us back into the fray.



Comments

  1. WadeJuly 24, 2013 at 7:24 PM

    Good stuff. It also caught me off guard when I found myself alone when I stopped chasing after things of this world. I expected my nonbelieving friends to kind of seperate from me but it's really been the opposite. My nonbelieving friends actually respect my stand and my friends that are believers have distanced themselves. " The workers are few". Man that's sad. Praise God for his restoration.

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