Jeremiah’s Complaint

Jeremiah is perplexed. He has some things that are bothering him, and he wants to get them out, so he tells God what is on his mind. The truth is God already knew what was on Jeremiah’s mind. Jeremiah begins by saying that God is always right. Does he really believe that? I think he does, and his life is a testimony to his belief, None-the-less he has a complaint for God:

Jeremiah 12:1-2 You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

Jeremiah wants to know:

•  How can you let evil people prosper?

•  How is it that you allow them to have it so good?

•  Why are crooks allowed to rip people off and get away with it?

•  Why would you let hypocrites get by with wrong?

Jeremiah believes he deserves an answer to this dilemma. Can you explain this apparent inconsistency to me, God? He expected God to explain how he could be sovereign and holy while human depravity exists side by side and God seems to ignore it. Jeremiah seems to be demanding an answer from God on this subject.

But God’s Answer Was Much Different

Jeremiah 12:5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

God was saying to Jeremiah, "If you can’t handle what is going on now, how do you expect to handle what’s in store for you tomorrow?" If this blows you out of the water, what will you do when greater tests come?

• Have you developed the attitude of complaining instead of trusting God with your burdens?

• Have you fallen into the habit of wanting sympathy instead of facing the challenges that God has sent your way?

• Do you let the little things in life discourage you and keep you from seeing the big picture?

• If you complain about the simple routine God has given you, how do you expect him to give you more important tasks?

• If you stumble with a few ounces of burden, how do you expect him to give you a larger burden of responsibility?

God is Our Refuge

David said, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Ps. 46:1-3). We all know what trouble is. All of us deal with it, but the difference is, like David, we have a refuge, an ever-present help in time of trouble. This refuge is our place to take shelter—a place to run in the storm for protection. God is that refuge!

This week I was on the playground, where children played loudly, and I looked up and saw a bird sitting on her eggs. She was ever so gentle and peaceful, doing what she was created to do even while the children played below. It reminded me of this verse: “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young — a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you (Ps. 84:3-4). We are never more at home than when we are in God’s house with God’s people praising Him. We can live in this troubled world and be at peace.

Life can be very difficult, with its emotional storms that bring on discouragement, frustration, hopelessness, and feelings of inadequacy. We often respond by withdrawing, and our motivation evaporates into thin air. Our contact with others diminishes, and we feel a lack of energy. Prolonged discouragement can be dangerous because we become aimless, but if we seek God as our refuge during this period, we can find renewed hope and purpose. It is our choice, as Isaiah says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15). If we turn to God and make him our refuge and repent of our wrongdoing, we will find rest, but if we refuse, our discouragement will only grow worse.

We cannot make our lives truly good without God’s help, but with God we can experience transformation: “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17). That sounds pretty good. It is worth a try!