29 July 2020

Jeremiah said to the Lord.
‘When your words came, I devoured them:
your word was my delight
and the joy of my heart…

(So) ‘why is my suffering continual,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?’
From Jeremiah 15: 10, 16-21

It is fair to say that Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet – little wonder when so much of his ministry was warning people about the consequences of their actions. He has found so much joy and delight in God’s words, but every so often, his frustration and anger with some of the things God asked of him would burst out. He looks back to when he fell in love with God – that enthusiasm for sharing God’s word with others. But then, he faces the reality of what that can sometimes mean – the misunderstandings – the hostility – the rejections and, understandably, wonders why he ever started.

• • Have you ever had times when your faith and living it out felt too challenging?
  • How reassuring is it to know that people like Jeremiah felt confused and frustrated by trying to live out God’s will for them?

If you are living in a difficult time faith or life-wise, try talking to God as Jeremiah did – “I have done…/ tried my best…/ etc and here I am feeling….” Then the important bit – having dumped the feelings before God, try to find a quiet time and space to hear God’s response… It may or may not come in words – and it may not come straightaway – but be open to the way in which God responds.