But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.” Jeremiah 1:7 (NIV)
Part 1 – Young and Free
It can come in an instant. Loud and clear, almost audible. Sometimes its a sense, a knowing. Other times its actual words. But you know in an instant what he’s saying.
Then, it can come as if on the wind. Slowly wrapping around your heart and mind… for days there seems to be something beyond the periphery of your vision… just out of reach. But as you keep looking and listening, you slowly uncover the message. Like the plot of a long novel that must be read carefully to be understood.
God speaks through his word, through creation, family, friends, strangers, others, books, preachers, storytellers, films, songs…
What does he say? Only you can answer that. But you’ll recognise his voice, his language is of love and grace, purpose and hope. It alway leads you further down the path he planned for you from the very beginning.
When the words are easy and pleasing, when they are filled with love and lightness, the conversation is a joy. But then there are times when he speaks in fatherly tones with kingly language, entrusting us with purpose, asking us to be and go and do.
The Bible tells the story of a conversation between God and a young Jeremiah, the son of a priest. God encourages him saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you, and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you!” Jer 1:5 (AMP)
What beautiful words! They addressed Jeremiah’s origin and validity – God had a plan for him, he was special (like us all), chosen and valuable. He belonged – he was not an accident! These are words to soothe many of our fears. The ache to belong is widely felt and it's the seed of many of our personal and global issues.
But God had more to say.
“I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Past tense. Done deal.
I can imagine Jeremiah’s face dropping at this point, filling with anxiety and confusion because he responds with “Alas, Sovereign Lord… I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
Did he feel the task was beyond him? Did he hope to hear something else?
How about you? Have you ever balked at the words of God? Ever sighed with confusion, scratched your head in wonder, or feel your heart seize with dread?
“Forgive her, love him, start a conversation, finish that job, leave that community, walk on, don’t stay, stay, help, resist, start again, let it go, time for something new, remember what went before, have patience, rejoice, don’t worry, keep on going, visit them, befriend them… Go into all the world and make disciples of ALL…”
What do you do when he asks too much of you? God, the author of all, whose signature is love and whose grace has the capacity for our unfolding stories, isn’t surprised that we focus on our limitations in our humanity.
Go to PART 2 “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog”
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