The Call of Jeremiah
Open Your Bible
Jeremiah 1:1-19, Jeremiah 2:1-37, Jeremiah 3:1-5, Isaiah 6:4-7, 1 Peter 1:21
BY Bailey Gillespie
Jodi was one of those fortunate people who knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her goal was a beautiful one: to be a clinical dietitian who could bring nutritional education to people in impoverished cultures. Have you known someone like that? I love and admire those people, but I’m definitely not one of them. Besides a love of spending time outdoors, I never had a clear vision for my life and was a bit paralyzed throughout college, not knowing what career path to choose or direction to take. The world held seemingly endless possibilities, but this only crippled me in the decision-making process.
Jeremiah’s calling was clearly and specifically communicated to him. Scripture tells us that long before he was even born, God intended to use him as His prophetic instrument. “I chose you before I formed you in the womb,” God declared. “I set you apart before you were born” (Jeremiah 1:5). Commanded to warn the people of Judah against apostasy, Jeremiah received instructions for his calling very early on in life—a clear purpose with detailed words from the Lord for the salvation and flourishing of a specific people.
Even so, Jeremiah protested, saying, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth” (v.6). Wouldn’t we react the same way? Imagine how intimidating it must’ve been to be chosen as God’s mouthpiece for the purpose of declaring judgment and punishment on the sins of the nations. Not only was the job description itself daunting, but the guy delivering it was still really young and without much life experience. But God reassured Jeremiah again and again that He would be there to rescue him (vv.7–8, 19).
As comforting as God’s reassurance must have been, the call to be His prophet was in no way an easy job for Jeremiah. On the other hand, what a blessing and relief to have God specifically communicate His calling for you at such a young age. Jeremiah knew what it would look like to obey God’s will. Now he just had to walk in it.
What about you? Where do you find comfort in the story of Jeremiah’s calling?
God chooses all of our callings. Designing us to carry out a unique purpose at a specific time and place, He equips us with gifts to help bring restoration to the world (Hebrews 13:21). How exciting is that? Even when we shudder in our boots a little, like Jeremiah did, we can rest assured knowing that He who calls is with us.
151 thoughts on "The Call of Jeremiah"
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I found your article after I typed “What is ‘The Jeremiah Calling?’” and your blog article popped up at the top. There’s a reason I did this search on 5:55 10/25. God has shown me some seriously hard facts about my calling and now it’s all making sense. Many years ago in 1983 His anointing came upon me physically during a prayer meeting. A prophet in this group then began to speak to me about the calling of God on my life. He asked if I loved Him then said “Feed my Sheep” three times but said lambs too. Not long after He spoke through His word saying “You are my mouthpiece” and soon after my entire tongue was covered by ulcers. The church I’d been attending was the first I can remember where God opened my eyes through experience to show me the heart of the pastor at that time. It was grievous in my spirit. As a newly Spirit filled believer I was stunned. In tears I drove home and sat at my table where my Bible was laying there opened to Isaiah 51:12-16, ““I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor? He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die and go down to the pit, neither shall his bread be lacking. I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’””
Two weeks ago I visited a new hairstylist. She was a believer who’d been referred to me. As we chatted she suddenly said “I just saw a white door.” I said what?…A white door?” She said “Yes, I saw a white door.” I knew the Lord was showing me that He was going to open a door that only He could open. A righteous door. I have too many experiences in my past and up to date of things He has shown me while attending various churches and people to bore anyone with here, but I’m sharing this to show whoever reads this that this is what God doing right now to reveal the specific calling on me. I’ve cried in times past asking the Lord “Why?! Why am I like a magnet to these people and churches?!” “Why do I see what these people are not even seeing in their own churches?!” This morning I opened my Oswald Chambers devotional post in my email and it was about a specific calling God has placed on the lives of some men and women and an urgency to respond to that calling. Then at the bottom of the message was a link with a list of two books of the Bible and the scripture for those who are reading through the Bible in one year. I gasped when I saw it…”it said, “Jeremiah.”
He spoke strongly in my spirit last night as I laid in bed listening to Jeremiah 20. I thought to myself…”That’s been my entire life.” “Persecution through the church and His people.” I now have peace and a clearer understanding of my calling. Thank you for being a part of this confirmation. Many blessings.
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Waiting to learn what God has for me to do, I know he has a plan with a purpose! ❤️
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There is such peace and comfort from knowing that God has a calling and a plan for us! Needed this tonight!
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It’s humbling & majestic to know that God has a plan for all of us! We each have specific gifts given to us to use for His glory. We may not always see our gifts at a young age, but we have hope knowing that we indeed will one day open our eyes to our gift & have the strength to use it! I sing & for many years I was going in the wrong direction. Not in a bad direction, just wrong. I haven’t wanted to be rich or famous for it, but I know music can help people. I’ve always seen my gift this way: as a way to help others just as music has always helped me. But trying to record became a difficult & expensive task. Maybe I’m just meant to sing in church? Maybe just in the car to friends and family and spread the word that way? Maybe just through social media a little to reach those who feel lost out there in the world. I’m still on my singing journey but I know God has great plans for me! He has great plans for you too friends! Stay in your lane & watch for His signs!
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I’ve been contemplating making career change and leaving teaching. I felt that my purpose from God was to teach but I trust that He has a purpose for me. Hebrews 13:21 promises that He has that purpose for me!
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In this case, the ignorance of youth might be exactly why Jeremiah was openly called openly by God at such a young age. If Jeremiah had known how hard the job description was and what a lonely desolate job he had ahead ahead of him, he might have run the other way. Jeremiah’s experience of being chosen and called reminded me of John the Baptist.
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