During our lunch hour, my children are excited to blast the music of their choice. There is one soundtrack that is played pretty frequently because of how much they enjoy those tunes.
Though I’ve heard the lyrics countless times, the following stood out to me today:
“I will get back up again.”
When reading the Bible, we come across many people who faced challenges with faithfulness.
Among those are the prophets. Their job was to tell God’s people what He was instructing. I can only imagine the boldness and courage required for such a calling. From what I have been reading, it seems that in addition to the challenge of delivering the message, there was an even greater challenge with how the people received the message. More often than not, when God’s people were addressed by the prophets, they didn’t want to hear it, continued in disobedience, and willfully chose to ignore warnings.
That’s pretty frustrating in my opinion, especially in the case of Jeremiah.
He had the task of pointing out how the Israelites’ love and devotion toward God were lacking, as we read in chapters 2:1-3:5. Jeremiah also warned that judgment was coming in chapters 3:6-6:30. I know, it’s not a touchy-feely message, but that’s what God wanted him to say. Do you know how the people responded? Jeremiah was met with persecution and hatred. Yet, we read how he compassionately pleads and prays to God to save His people in chapter 10:6-25. Ultimately, Jeremiah lived through one of the most difficult experiences that any prophet faced in his ministry as the Israelites were exiled.
But he did not abandon the call. Even when Jeremiah may have felt discouraged, he did not give up and walk away. Instead, he was faithful to deliver the message of God.
Maybe you’re in an environment where you know your assignment is to shine the light of God, but you have come across a difficult personality or two.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (AMPC) reminds us that “We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard-driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;”
Can I encourage you today my Friend? If God has called you to it, He will walk you through it. Not only will you get back up again, but you will accomplish what God has called you to do with His help and strength.
~Joyce
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