A complaint to God

Every so often in life we have frustrations and anger that can be overwhelming. Even the best of Christians at times bet frustrated and overwhelmed. Jeremiah was one who was always down about his circumstances. In Jeremiah 12 he wrote:

12 You are always righteous, Lord,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.
3 Yet you know me, Lord;
you see me and test my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep to be butchered!
Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

Jeremiah was frustrated with those around him and how they seemed to grow in their wickedness and nothing seemed to happen to them. When we see the same thing it can be very lonely and frustrating none the less God wants us to be honest with him and come to him with these things just like Jeremiah.

Later in Jeremiah 12:14 he shows that he will indeed deal with that situation and do so righteously. Even giving Jeremiah details about what he was going to do.

Prior to that there was something he said that was interesting:

5 “If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

In parables he is telling Jeremiah that he is putting him though these things to test him and strengthen him. Because good times do not strengthen anyone. It makes people soft. Softness causes us to loose vision. Softness lets in compromise. Running with the horses, it’s dealing with the bad times in a Godly manor. Hard times make people stronger in God if they seek him during them and know that God is working his perfect work through them.

Each time we endure and overcome we gain strength. In God we gain strength to become more what he wants us to be, better than what we used to be. He wants us to be able to run faithfully through extreme trials and not give in to them. No matter how overwhelming they can be.

As Jeremiah also shows us, we should never be afraid to talk to God about our feelings and situations directly to them. Even when we doubt and complain. He would rather still hear from us no matter what. Our faith is developed when we put them in his care and leave them there. That in itself is like running with the horses. To deny yourself and trust him is an ultimate display of faith!

Your Brother in Christ,

Steve Koenig