Jeremiah 20:11
“But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.”
Jeremiah was mostly a prophet who kept a pretty positive attitude in spite of all that he faced. Yet, there was a short time in Jeremiah 20 when he faced discouragement. In that time of discouragement he still had the proper outlook on life and what to do.
Everyone will at some point in their life face a time of discouragement. Just like Jeremiah, the attacks and accusations do get to you. I know there are those who say not to listen, but the fact is you can’t help but hear those who defame you and predict your failure. However, just like Jeremiah, you have to see that their end is coming; but, between now and then what do you do?
Between now and then, remember that you are not alone. Jeremiah remembered the LORD was with him when he said, “But the LORD is with me…” You must be careful about falling into a selfish depression thinking that no one cares for you. Many Christians have adopted the martyr syndrome thinking everyone is against them, but that just isn’t true. You must realize that the LORD is with you even when you may feel that you are all alone.
Between now and then, you would be wise to sing the praises of God. Verse 13 says, “Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.” Jeremiah understood the power of music. Instead of having a pity party, he chose to sing the praises of God. You can sulk in all that you hear, or you can sing the praises of God. Sulking will not help the end of those who are against you to come any quicker, but singing can certainly lift your spirit and show them that they are not going to affect your spirit towards the LORD and life.
Between now and then, keep doing what you are supposed to do. One of the best prescriptions to help you through difficult times when you feel like everyone is against you is to continue doing what you have always done. Oftentimes people will go into hibernation mode and withdraw from everything which only feeds the feeling of self pity. The one normalcy in life that others cannot control is what you personally do and where you go. Don’t let their defamation and attacks hold you a prisoner to life. Keep doing what you have always done and it will eventually show others the reports of your demise are false.
Between now and then, don’t quit. My friend, you may be have come to what you feel is the end of your rope, but you must remember that the LORD knows what you can take and will not put more on you than what you can bear. Quitting should never be an option. If all you can do is put one foot in front of the other, then do that but don’t quit.
Time always seem to move slowly between the now and then, but time always tells who is right. Let me encourage you to take these thoughts of advice and continue on. Time always reveals who is right, and if you are right you will be proven in God’s time that what others have reported about you is false. Until then, take this advice and follow it so that you don’t prolong the reports of those who have predicted your demise.