“Now the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a youth”; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.’ Then the LORD put out His hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, ‘Behold, I have put My Words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”‘ (Jeremiah 1:4-10 ESV)
Jeremiah was nervous when God called him to be His prophet. “I don’t know how to speak,” he said. “I’m just a youth.” Jeremiah was right—he wasn’t up to the job, and he knew it. So far, so true.
But he missed one thing—and God pointed it out. “I have put My words in your mouth,” God said. It’s as if God said, “Don’t worry. It’s not about you. It’s about Me. You don’t have to be smart enough or strong enough or good enough. I have put My words in your mouth, and they will do the job.” And they did. Jeremiah spent the rest of his life speaking God’s Word to the people. He did the job God had for him.
God has called you, too, to certain jobs. They may not be flashy jobs like being a prophet. More likely they are humble jobs—being a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend. You may be a caregiver, an encourager, a pray-er, a protector. You may even think that you have no job at all, because at this point in your life your role is mainly to receive care from others. But that’s a job! And a hard one, at times.
What happens when you feel overwhelmed by your job, whatever it may be? You can turn to the same source of help Jeremiah did. “I have put My Word in your mouth,” God said to him. “You aren’t doing it alone.” And to us He says, “I have put My Holy Spirit in your heart. You are not alone. I laid down My life at the cross to make you Mine, and I will not forsake you now. I will work through you, with all your faults and weaknesses, and I will bring glory to My Name.”
Jesus never sends us out alone. He is always with us, and we can call on Him for help and strength and wisdom. Because He loves us and holds us up, we can do the difficult jobs we face—one step at a time, supported by Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me when I am afraid or don’t know what I should do. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the most joyful job that you do right now?
2. What is the most difficult?
3. Tell about a time when you faced a major challenge and God saw you through it.
