Because of this, the LORD said,
Jeremiah 15:19 NET
“You must repent of such words and thoughts!
If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me.
If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless,
I will again allow you to be my spokesman.
They must become as you have been.
You must not become like them.
Jeremiah was called to be a prophet during the waning days of the southern kingdom of Judah and into their fall and exile. His message of coming judgment was not a popular one. And he endured great suffering because of it.
In Jeremiah 15:15-21 we find a time when Jeremiah was experiencing a crisis of faith. He expressed his joy when God’s word had come to him and in the knowledge that he belonged to God (16). He also expressed his faithfulness in following God rather than the crowd (17). But then he questioned why God would allow his faithful servant to experience all the suffering he was going through. Did God really care about him (18)?
Jeremiah was essentially wondering if there was any value in serving God. He had been faithful. But all he was getting out of it was suffering. God seemed not to be holding up his end of the bargain.
God did not reject Jeremiah because of his doubt, although it was keeping him from fulfilling his calling as a prophet. But God did call on him to repent of his words and thoughts. If he would repent, God would restore him and continue to use him as his messenger to the nation. And God would be his defender, making Jeremiah like a strong wall able to withstand his attackers (20-21).
Jeremiah’s crisis of faith is not unique to him. Many who faithfully serve God experience times when it seems God has abandoned them. When they might wonder why they should continue to serve God. Times when their life and service are hard, and the reward seems missing.
God’s message to us when we are experiencing our own “crisis of faith” is the same as it was to Jeremiah. Don’t allow your doubts to sideline you. Express them to God. Listen to his response. And remain faithful to God’s call in your life. He does care for us more than we can know. And he will enable us to endure whatever might come our way. And the reward will be great.
