“Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares Yahweh.
Jeremiah 1:8, LSB
God does not promise worldly prosperity but will prosper us in things that will last eternally. Jeremiah was being prepared for a very uncomfortable and long ministry in which he would face many hardships. God’s blessings are not worldly blessings. This does not preclude that God will bless with worldly things but, in all honesty, the things that will pass away are not of great concern to God except for how they may cause us to fall away from Him. When we become too caught up with the things of this world our eyes can become more focused on the world and less on the Lord. As things are lost our hearts may become filled with deep sadness and grief drawing our eyes away from God and His blessings. Jeremiah lamented not for the things he lost, but for the people not walking close with God. He lamented for the lost kingdom and the exile and suffering they would face. Jeremiah’s laments were for the hearts of the people to turn toward God. Our fear is meant to be only for God and not for any person or government of this world. We can walk as Jeremiah in the knowledge that God is with us and will deliver us when we faithfully walk out the calling He has for us in our lives and, in this, we can find peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.