Jeremiah 1:11-19: a reflection

11Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.” 13The LORD’s word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.” 14Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land. 15For behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD. “They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah. 16I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17“You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. 18For behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says the LORD, “to rescue you.”

God calls young Jeremiah to a hard task, speaking unwelcome truth to a resistant nation, and Jeremiah is afraid. So God makes him a promise, and notice its honest shape. God does not say you will face no opposition. He says the opposite: they will fight against you. The people, the kings, the priests will all come against him. Opposition is guaranteed.

But then the promise continues: they will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for I am with you to deliver you. And God says he has made Jeremiah a fortified city, an iron pillar, bronze walls, against the whole land. Jeremiah's strength will not be in himself; he is a frightened young man. His strength will be that God is with him, making him able to stand against opposition that would otherwise crush him.

That is the promise God gives those he calls to hard things, and it is worth hearing rightly. He does not promise an easy road with no resistance. He promises presence and protection in the resistance: they will fight you, but they will not prevail, for I am with you. If God has called you to something difficult, and you can already feel the opposition, do not read the opposition as a sign you heard wrong. Hear instead the whole promise: they will fight, but not prevail, for I am with you. He makes the fearful into fortified cities.

Lord, when you call me to something hard and I feel the opposition, remind me of your promise to Jeremiah: they will fight against you, but not prevail, for I am with you. Make me strong not in myself but in your presence, and let me stand where I could not stand alone.