Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 15-16
Why do bad things happen to good people? Have you ever wondered why God allows difficult times in your life? Have you ever suffered physical pain or disease? Have you ever watched a loved one struggle with cancer and wondered why God does not heal all of His faithful children?
Jeremiah was called by God to proclaim to the people of Judah their future destruction and captivity. Although intimidated by God’s call on his life, Jeremiah was obedient and listened to God, passing on each message that the Lord gave him. Yet, as we read through the book of Jeremiah, we see that life was not easy for him. We can imagine that his message was less than popular because it was extremely harsh. For example, listen to these words of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah:
“For I will upset the careful plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will allow the people to be slaughtered by invading armies, and I will leave their dead bodies as food for the vultures and wild animals. I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there. I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone. Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends. They will be driven to utter despair.” – Jeremiah 19:7-9
As you can imagine, Jeremiah’s message did not get a resounding “Amen” from the people. Instead he was persecuted, plotted against, arrested, mocked, flogged, whipped, put in stocks and placed on trial. When Jerusalem was attacked, Jeremiah’s life was in danger as well. When the people of Judah were led into exile, Jeremiah was also taken captive.
Listen to these words of Jeremiah and God’s response to His faithful servant:
Jeremiah: “What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go.”
God: “I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, Jeremiah.” (Jeremiah 15:10-11)
Jeremiah: “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me…I bear your name…Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”
God: “I AM WITH YOU to protect you and rescue you…I will certainly keep you safe…I will rescue you…” (Jeremiah 15:15-21)
Jeremiah: “Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!” (Jeremiah 16:19)
I am so thankful for a God who knows us, who watches over us, and who answers us when we call. He is with us when things are going great and He is with us when life is at its toughest. He does not promise us that the task will be easy or that our obedience will result in popularity, but He does promise to care of us. He promises to never leave us. What a joy it is to have the Lord as our hope and confidence.
God: “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
Jeremiah: “O Lord, if you heal me, I will truly be healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!” (Jeremiah 17:14)
What a beautiful testimony of faith! Lord, we give you everything we are facing right now. We ask for you to be our strength when we are weak and our fortress when we need protection. Lord, please be our refuge in our day of trouble. We trust in you and rest on your riverbank, rooted in you and growing in our faith.