Jeremiah 1:5-9, "'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.' 'Alas, Sovereign LORD,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am too young.' 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. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'I have put my words in your mouth...'"
Do you ever step out in faith, after you have heard from God on something, then all too soon you start doubting whether or not you really did hear from Him, or if it was really all your imagination? This doubting is way too easy for me. How? How do you stay steadfast and planted in the work you are being called to? How do you know that you are doing the right thing when doubt comes flooding in? It is so easy to start with fire, but because your fire is not hot, you burn out quickly and smolder. It is not about what you are doing, but why. The why, is what can carry you through till the next wave comes. The Who is your why.
Jeremiah 2:8, "The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’"
Not, where is the LORD in the work. Not, where is the LORD in what you are doing. Everything is about where is the LORD in your daily life. As we step out in faith and begin a new thing, doubt is bound to come in. It has to. Jeremiah had to have much doubt, but what he had was endurance. And that is what set him apart from the others. It takes a long-term commitment. It takes caring and the willingness to be committed to God in order to complete the task. Just as Jeremiah had to depend on God's love to develop endurance, so do we. When Jeremiah was tempted to give up, he could not. God had called him to endure. Not to endure because of the task set before him. He was called to endure with his LORD.
It is when we start thinking and sleeping with the task, that is when we need to be careful. It is not about the job. It never has been. It is all about our relationship with Him. He is calling us to endure with Him. Then through our endurance with Him we can be witnesses of His mighty work through us. What an awesome day that will be, when we wake up and we have endured with Him. It will not be about what we have and have not done, but it will be about our relationship with our Creator. Can we endure with Him? Can we continue to see the dream He has placed in front of us, while we wait for His timing? Can we continue on, in this day, working today to see His vision for our life fulfilled? Can we stick with the task against all odds, as Jeremiah did? Can we ride out this wave of doubt, waiting with God, until the next high wave carries us through? Are we willing to endure with Him?
James 1:2-4 "Dear sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." (NLV) Love you sisters :)
