"CALM AND CRISIS" - Spiritual Insight For Today's Troubled Times

By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

 

JEREMIAH WAS KNOWN AS THE 'WEEPING PROPHET’. 

Some say he was called at the age of 17. 

 

He was called to reprove a crumbling nation. The Israelite nation. 

Unfortunately for them they didn’t listen to him. But during his day, people were so hardened by sin that they neither believed God nor feared him. They seem to find Jeremiah's constant warning of judgment overbearing and frankly, annoying.

 

IT'S THE SAME WITH US NOW. 

Those that hear our warning find us obnoxious! 

But as believers we are supposed to follow God's instructions to warn a lost and dying world of upcoming judgment. Even though most are not listening, we still have to persevere in courageously speaking truth in order to rescue some from the terrible judgment that will inevitably come. If we are so easily discouraged at fighting the rude behavior of our peers what are we going to do, when we are confronted by demons? 

 

The LORD rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience in Jeremiah 12:5 saying, 

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure], Then how will you do among the lions in the flooded jungle thicket beside the Jordan?”

 

If we are distraught when we can't make a car payment, what will we do when we lose our job?

If the footmen weary you what will the horses do?

 

If we are distressed at the terrorism going on overseas, what will we do when it’s in our own neighborhoods? Because it already is!

If the footmen weary you what will the horses do?

 

If we are overwhelmed with the work we have now, what will we do when a double or triple portion is required of us? 

If the footmen weary you what will the horses do?

 

GOD IS REMINDING JEREMIAH (AND US)

THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT

THAN WHAT WE’RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

 

THERE IS SOMETHING AHEAD OF US IN THIS SEASON MY FRIENDS

THAT ARE OF MORE CONCERN THAN PETTY GRIEVANCES AGAINST THOSE

WHO SEEM TO BE BETTER OFF OR LIVE EASIER THAN WE DO. 

 

God is telling Jeremiah “ If you are not able to encounter lesser dangers, how will you be able to overcome greater ones?” 

Jesus said to us in John 16: 33, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! Take Courage! I have overcome the world.”

 

IT’S NATURAL THAT OUR HARDEST DAYS AND MOST DIFFICULT TRIALS ARE AHEAD OF US, NOT BEHIND US. If you are worried and in great upset about these things, what are you going to do when you are forced to face extremely difficult trials and troubles that are most certainly just around the bend?

 

Matthew Henry said, “The faith even of strong believers may sometimes be sorely shaken and ready to fail them. There will be storms that will try the firmest anchors.” Now, Isn’t that the truth? 

 

JEREMIAH WAS CONSUMED WITH GRIEF ABOUT THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED in Anathoth when just in a short time He would be beaten in Jerusalem by order of the priest Pashhur (instead of worrying about the prosperity of heathens in Anathoth, he was about to be severely punished by a priest in Jerusalem). 

 

Let's take a sneak peek of what is in store for Jeremiah:

“He had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper gate of Benjamin at the Lord’s temple.” Jer. 20:2

 

GOD SAW THIS COMING WHEN JEREMIAH WAS CRYING ABOUT

THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED!

 

If Jeremiah had known what was going to happen ahead of him, He wouldn't have wasted time complaining about the men of Ana Thoth. Jeremiah was concerned about something insignificant when something greater needed his attention. 

And, His own family was secretly conspiring against him — they spoke well of him to his face but were trying to incite a mob against him behind his back. They seemed to be friendly but they were really his enemies.

 

God's Faithful Servants Shouldn't Think It Strange

That Their Enemies Are In Their Own Family,

Some Living Under Their Own Roof.

 

Jesus told us in Matthew 10:34-35 

“For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's enemies will be the members