In the middle of the night…

Do you ever feel like you were handed a particularly difficult life,? 😬

Today, let’s take a quick look at the life of Jeremiah—and trust me, after that, you’ll probably be very thankful to have your life and not his.

Jeremiah tells us: “The LORD gave me another message. He said, ‘Do not get married or have children in this place.’” (Jeremiah 16:1-2 NIV)

Well, thanks for that. He was already a completely lonely prophet who barely anyone listened to. His life was radically devoted to serving God—even through deep personal suffering.

He was despised and persecuted for announcing God’s judgment. People saw him as a traitor because he called them to repent instead of offering false hope. He was beaten and thrown into prison (see Jeremiah 37:15-16). He was lowered into a cistern where he nearly died (see Jeremiah 38:1-13).

And that’s just a small glimpse into his life.

He even said: “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the LORD’s wrath.”  (Lamentations 3:1 NIV)

And he had no one to encourage him! Not even a daily “inspirational email” to boost his spirits in the morning. 😉

So, did he just give up and sink into despair? Uh—excuse me, no! That’s not how the story ends. He encouraged himself, and after all his complaints, he said:

“Yet I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:21-26 NIV) 

Wooooow… HOW could a man so beaten down speak WORDS like that?

Because he trusted more in what he couldn’t see than in what he was going through!

Believe in what you don’t yet see—and you’ll see what you believed in!

You are a miracle!