In the midst of his faithfulness to God that’s placed him in opposition to “the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land” (Jeremiah 1.18), Jeremiah’s an emotional wreck. “You deceived me, Lord…I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me…the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long” (Jeremiah 20.7-8). He feels dumped, trapped, and alone.
Dumped, trapped, and alone: these are not words we typically associate with obedience to the Lord. But as Jeremiah’s life illustrates, it can be what we feel as we step into difficult situations that may never improve. But notice Jeremiah’s response: “…his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed I cannot” (Jeremiah 20.9).
When every fiber of his being told him to stop, Jeremiah kept moving! Although he had a choice, he couldn’t not do what God asked him to do. This leads to our One Big Question: When you find yourself overwhelmed and completely drained, how do you react or relate to God? Discuss with your small group or your family around the dinner table.
