MTSM Devotion
This devotion is a companion to MTSM teaching video on Jeremiah 1. You can watch the video here.
Read: Jeremiah 1:4–19
Key Truth: God never calls His people to hard things without also supplying what they need to obey faithfully.
Just this past month, I learned something about my youngest son. He’s six, and I’ve noticed that when something is new and hard, his confidence drops quickly. Roller skating was one example. Bowling was another. In both situations, the challenge wasn’t ability—it was fear. Fear of falling, of failing, of doing something he hadn’t done before.
In those moments, I found myself repeating the same phrase: “You can do hard things.” Or sometimes, “We do hard things.” And we didn’t just say it and walk away. We stood with him, gave instruction, and held his hand while he skated. We helped line up the bowling ramp and the ball with the pins. As a result, he didn’t just survive the experience—he enjoyed it. He succeeded. And he learned something important: hard doesn’t mean impossible when someone stronger is with you.
That’s exactly what we see in Jeremiah 1.
Before Jeremiah ever spoke a word, God made something clear—the call came first. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5, NLT). Jeremiah didn’t choose this role; it was given to him by God. And it would not be easy. He was called to speak hard truths to resistant people, often at great personal cost.
Like Jeremiah, our obedience is not meant to rest on confidence, comfort, or clarity. It rests on calling. When Jeremiah objected because of his youth and inexperience, God didn’t lower the standard or remove the assignment. Instead, He reminded Jeremiah that obedience flows from being sent, not from feeling ready (Jeremiah 1:7).
God also promised what Jeremiah would need most—His presence. “Do not be afraid… for I am with you and will rescue you” (Jeremiah 1:8, NLT). God didn’t promise an easy path, but He did promise to go with him through it. Jeremiah would speak God’s words, not his own, and God Himself would watch over those words to accomplish His purposes.
Finally, God strengthened Jeremiah for the long road ahead. He made him “like a fortified city” (Jeremiah 1:18, NLT)—not because the task would be light, but because the resistance would be real.
This passage reminds us that God still calls His people to hard things today: hard conversations, hard faithfulness, hard steps of obedience. But the same God who called Jeremiah still calls, equips, and sustains His people now.
If God has called you, He will give you what you need to move forward—one obedient step at a time.
Reflection Questions
- What hard thing might God be calling you to obey right now?
- Where are you tempted to rely on your ability instead of God’s calling?
- How does God’s promise of presence change the way you view obedience?
Prayer
Lord, help me trust Your call even when obedience feels costly. Remind me that You are with me, that Your purposes will stand, and that You will supply all I need to remain faithful and obedient. Amen.
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If you’d like to go deeper in the book of Jeremiah, explore our Jeremiah Commentary Hub. You’ll find video teachings and other study resources designed to help you understand the message of Jeremiah in its biblical context.
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