January 11 | A Call to Longsuffering

This weekend, Pastor Jeff Manion began the series When You Feel Like Giving Up by introducing us to Jeremiah and his unpleasant, unasked for job. During one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history, God calls him to be his prophet—the difficult and long term job of preaching repentance to an unrepentant, stiff necked people. We know from Jeremiah 1.1-3, this calling will last forty years and not end happily.

Sticking with such an unnerving, impossible calling is tough and requires tenacity through fatigue, melt down, and severe pain. Essentially, it is a call to longsuffering. In no way could Jeremiah see himself fulfilling this job as he was incapable of mustering up the required faith. But it is God who is faithful—forming and preparing Jeremiah before birth to take this particularly difficult call.

God often calls us to impossible, long-term, hopeless situations we don’t see coming and certainly don’t want. Like Jeremiah, we feel helpless and unprepared to respond with faith. But God is not surprised by our trials and not only has faithfully prepared us (Jeremiah 1.5) but will stay right with us (Jeremiah 1.19).

Today, as we begin this series, you or someone you know may be facing a long, difficult, uninvited trial. Meditate on God’s words to Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” Write out and memorize Jeremiah 1.8 and gain hope from God’s faithfulness.