Jeremiah: When God Calls You to Hard ThingsSample

Day 7: When Obedience Doesn’t Bring Success

While the Bible doesn’t share much about the end of Jeremiah’s life, one thing we do know is that Jeremiah was alone. His family abandoned him. He did not marry. He stayed in Jerusalem and was imprisoned by the Babylonians. Later, when he was released from prison, Jewish rebels assassinated the governor who protected him and took Jeremiah against his will to Egypt, where he lived until his death.

Jeremiah did not receive a rich earthly reward. He did not get back everything he had lost two-fold. No, after losing almost everything, he was forced to live and die as an exile in Egypt. It is not a fairytale ending. It is an ending in obscurity. And it reminds us that we don’t know the future and that our obedience to God’s will does not guarantee earthly “success.”

Throughout history, we see that God does not always act by removing suffering and pain. The way he acts is by being present with us in the pain. His presence is our comfort and shalom. Perhaps this is one reason why throughout the Bible, God assures us to “Fear not for I am with you.” God’s promise is not one of a life free of pain or suffering but of his presence and care for our souls. When we choose to abide in him and obey his commands, our souls can flourish even in the direst of circumstances.

Jeremiah’s life is an example for us to consider today, where truth and integrity are relativistic and seldom applauded if even pursued, especially if it costs something. His story reminds us that obedience does not guarantee success, “blessing” or fame. In fact, it might even mean rejection, shame and isolation.

On the final day of this devotion, let’s pause and reflect on our own lives. Are we willing to follow and trust God even when things don’t go our way? How do we respond to God’s correction? How will we live out our faith as spiritual “exiles” here on earth? How can we cultivate God’s presence in our daily lives, regardless of the circumstances we face?

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