What Jeremiah Taught Me About Success
- 1 min reading time
I've been reading the book of Jeremiah and couldn't help but think: how hard must it have been for him to preach to a people who would not listen... a life of obedience to God and no fruit at all.
👉 A little context: Jeremiah was the prophet who lived in the final days of the southern kingdom of Judah. The basic theme of his message was simple: repent and turn to God, or doom would come upon Judah. God would destroy the nation and send them as captives to Babylon. But no one listened.
Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem by Horace Vernet, 1844
Jeremiah preached for 40 years (‼️), and he saw no success in changing the minds of the people. They remained stubborn. Even the prophets before him had some success, but not Jeremiah. He likely felt as if he were speaking to a wall. This affected him deeply, which is why he is called the "weeping prophet."
If success were measured by visible results, Jeremiah might have seemed like a failure. But fortunately, that's not the case. In God's eyes, he was one of the most successful people in history. A faithful servant God could count on despite all odds.
➡️ Can we be like Jeremiah? Commit yourself to being successful in God's eyes, not in the eyes of humans. Strive to be faithful and obedient even when you don’t see the fruit of your labor. 🙏❤️
And ask yourself: when you don’t achieve success… is Jesus enough?
"Lord, help me to trust Your timing and Your ways, even when my efforts seem unnoticed. Teach me to seek Your approval above all else and to remain steadfast in obedience. Father, when I feel discouraged or unseen, remind me that Jesus is enough. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
