Have you ever felt so overwhelmed as you continually put forth your best effort but there is no fruit? How do you continually persevere through that situation?
Jeremiah was a prophet given an incredibly difficult call from the Lord. He was called to preach to the people of Jerusalem and call them to repentance. For forty years he called repentance to a people who refused to hear and heed the warnings sent forth from the Lord. He was put in jail, suffered hunger, and faced discouragement. I could not imagine every day for forty years of going forth among a people who refused to turn to their Lord and of knowing the future calamities that would befall them if they would not repent. Jeremiah did this because the Lord commanded him to cry repentance to the people. He obediently went forth and fulfilled all that the Lord asked of Him. That is a demonstration of true perseverance.
Merriam Webster defines perseverance as, " continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition." Jeremiah continued the work of the Lord despite the feelings of discouragement he may have felt. He continued the work although it was not enjoyable. He was called to be a prophet during a time in which it was not popular. He may not have wanted that calling. The Lord know the character of Jeremiah and knew that he could fulfill this assignment. Jeremiah 1:5 testifies that God knew Jeremiah before his time on Earth. He knew that Jeremiah would fulfill and magnify this calling. He knew that this difficult circumstances would lead Jeremiah to know His Savior in a very real way. Jeremiah would more than understood what it would mean to be cast out and rejected by men. He knew what it would mean to preach a message that would not be popular to the people. Jeremiah gained empathy for the incredible sacrifice the Savior would make. He would understand the struggles the Savior would face in declaring the message His Father sent Him to share. These circumstances would lead Jeremiah to state powerful testimony in Lamentations about the mercy and love the Savior has.
In Lamentations chapter 3 verses 22-27,31-32, Jeremiah delivers this sermon.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
Jeremiah was a prophet given an incredibly difficult call from the Lord. He was called to preach to the people of Jerusalem and call them to repentance. For forty years he called repentance to a people who refused to hear and heed the warnings sent forth from the Lord. He was put in jail, suffered hunger, and faced discouragement. I could not imagine every day for forty years of going forth among a people who refused to turn to their Lord and of knowing the future calamities that would befall them if they would not repent. Jeremiah did this because the Lord commanded him to cry repentance to the people. He obediently went forth and fulfilled all that the Lord asked of Him. That is a demonstration of true perseverance.
Merriam Webster defines perseverance as, " continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition." Jeremiah continued the work of the Lord despite the feelings of discouragement he may have felt. He continued the work although it was not enjoyable. He was called to be a prophet during a time in which it was not popular. He may not have wanted that calling. The Lord know the character of Jeremiah and knew that he could fulfill this assignment. Jeremiah 1:5 testifies that God knew Jeremiah before his time on Earth. He knew that Jeremiah would fulfill and magnify this calling. He knew that this difficult circumstances would lead Jeremiah to know His Savior in a very real way. Jeremiah would more than understood what it would mean to be cast out and rejected by men. He knew what it would mean to preach a message that would not be popular to the people. Jeremiah gained empathy for the incredible sacrifice the Savior would make. He would understand the struggles the Savior would face in declaring the message His Father sent Him to share. These circumstances would lead Jeremiah to state powerful testimony in Lamentations about the mercy and love the Savior has.
In Lamentations chapter 3 verses 22-27,31-32, Jeremiah delivers this sermon.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
Our Heavenly Father knew us before this life. He knows what we can handle. He knows what will make us strong. He does not give us a task we cannot accomplish. As we turn to Him and to the Savior of the world, we will come to understand and know their perfect characters. We understand their mercy and compassion. We will be able to do any difficult task for as long as we are assigned because we know the Savior is there strengthening us. We will know that the Lord has called us do this assignment because He knew that we could do this task.
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