Passage Read: Lamentations 1-4
Meditation Verses: 3:62-66
Thought
Jeremiah has suffered so much in the Lord's service, so much that it seemed like God completely ignored him and his pleas, even while continuing to give him messages for the people. The more he preached, the more he was hated and the more the people schemed against him and attacked him. He was one of the only prophets warning them in truth and proven right when Jerusalem was destroyed. And still they hated him. Jeremiah's only comfort was his confidence in the Lord's eventual goodness, justice and restoration. He didn't see it yet, but he knew he would. Not until after the end of his days. How painful, how miserable a life: set apart completely to serving the Lord, hated by everyone who should appreciate you, and your only hope of peace and joy being after death. And those who refused to listen and believe your message, for whom you hoped salvation if only they would listen, those who schemed and plotted against you and mock you all day long, the Lord does judge them by hardening their heart so as to destroy them completely. How could anyone endure such a life?
Application
It is amazing that Jeremiah never gave up on the Lord, never turned his back on God and sought out a little joy and peace before his death. Because of his preaching for God, he endured ridicule and physical abuse all the days of his ministry life, which started while he still considered himself a child! And though there were times where it seemed he would give up, he couldn't abandon the Lord. I haven't suffered anything compared to Jeremiah, yet here I am wondering if I've been rejected by God for getting His message all messed up. If Jeremiah looked at his circumstances and feelings, he could have easily convinced himself that he was wrong and should stop preaching. But he was speaking the true words of God and everyone else was wrong, though they seemed to enjoy favor and popularity and authority. I'm too easily discouraged by my circumstances. God's mercy is new every morning, but that doesn't mean tomorrow will be all joy and light. Tomorrow likely will be as dark as today, but if I remain faithful to the truth of God throughout my days, I will see His glory and light and joy in eternity. May God help me endure; may I set my heart to endure, no matter what.