In the case of Jeremiah we have to reconcile, as he had to, the misery with what God said to him when He called him to be a prophet. He was especially chosen by God to bring his dread message to God’s people, and God gave him much encouragement and reassurance when He first called him: “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail” (Jer. 1:19). What did Jeremiah think of that promise when he found himself in the stocks or in the dungeon? Had not God said to him: “I am with thee… to deliver thee” (v19)?
God has said that not only to Jeremiah but to us all: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5,6).
That is difficult to believe when trouble comes, but it is true. It was true for Jeremiah, and it is true for us. Indeed, it is true for all the children of God. Paul says: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
The life of Jeremiah demonstrates this. Indeed, it is in the midst of tribulation that Jeremiah demonstrates his faith, his confidence that God is in control. He says: “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” (Lam. 3:22-26). This conviction that Jeremiah had should be shared by us all.
excerpt from “Jeremiah under trial” by Ernest A. Stallworthy in the Testimony magazine July 1993