Jeremiah 15:19-21 – Learn to keep our focus on God

In the earlier verses, we saw how the discouraged Jeremiah began to question God and made some audacious statements. He compared God to a stream that promised water but  yield nothing. It was obvious that he was wallowing in self-pity. As we have said God knew his servant well so in Jeremiah 15:19-21, he responded to get him to stop feeling sorry for himself. God told him to stop being sorry for himself and to return to doing the precious work that he was accustomed to doing. He should be the spokesman that God had called him to be and not be influenced by the people.  

If Jeremiah returned to God and walked by faith and obeyed His Word, verses 20-21, God reassured Jeremiah that he would be like a fortified and impenetrable wall to the people. He would be given victory over the enemies who would not be able to prevail over him. Furthermore, God would protect him and redeem him from the violent hands of the wicked.  

We human beings will have to face discouragement every now and then. They are part and parcel of our experiences. The best of God’s servants from Moses. to Joshua to Elijah, and many others all had their moments of discouragement. While it is impossible to ignore our feelings we know that we can learn to keep our focus on God and develop trust in Him. We must learn to abandon ourselves to God when the going becomes unbearable.  The moment we take our eyes off Him and pay undue attention to our circumstances instead, we will feel overwhelmed. We must walk by faith and not by sight. Remember God will never lead us to where His grace cannot sustain us.