I had a friend in elementary school from Wisconsin with a younger brother named Jeremiah. But her mom, in her best Wisconsin accent would always say, “Oh! Jairmyahhh” and it would light up my life. I love accents. Well today I found myself echoing the same term of endearment my friend’s mom did when I found myself reading the words written by the prophet Jeremiah.
I have grown up in the church. Almost literally. My dad has been in the ministry since I was born. One would think that this, coupled with the fact that I began my own relationship with Jesus Christ at a young age, would make me very comfortable with what this next year on the field holds. But oddly enough, the first thing I felt when I got accepted to the Race was “I’m not worthy to share the gospel!”
It was weird. I suddenly felt camera shy. People overseas seem to have such genuine faith when they find Jesus because he stands in such refreshing contrast to the hoplessness and darkness they see in their worlds. But in America where everyone claims to be a Christian, and far fewer show it with their actions, we don’t often have to offer a “start to finish” taste of the Gospel and its Author. So meeting people with NO idea of Jesus seemed a little overwhelming. What if I messed it up? What if I can’t remember the right scripture? All of these thoughts swimming through my brain same to a halt when I did my devotions this morning.
Meet Jeremiah. I think he and I would have been buddies. Jeremiah was the son of a priest in the land of Benjamin. We know him as a prophet who spoke many things from God to his Jewish counterparts. But the first time he heard from God he said, “O Sovereign Lord, I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” Sound familiar? Anyone?…anyone?…bueller?…
But what does the Lord have to say about this fear, this trepidation to do what he has called Jeremiah to do…
“Don’t say ‘I’m too young.’ For you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” [[Here’s my favorite]] “Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, ‘Look, I have put my words in your mouth!…” Jeremiah 1:6-9
A huge comfort washed over me when I read this passage. God is calling me to go, but he isn’t calling me to speak out of my own knowledge or experience. Those he calls, he also equips. So as he is sending us out, his Holy Spirit will lead our hearts into situations where we are meant to share and he will put HIS words in our mouths. Does that mean I don’t need to prepare myself to go? No. But I can rest assured of two things: he will speak through me and HIS words will not return void.
