A Fire That Cannot Be Contained
Devotional Credit: Immeasurably More by Ray Stedman
Photo Credit: Unsplash
The words of Jeremiah in chapter 20 are raw and unfiltered. He feels deceived by God, abandoned in his calling, and ridiculed by those around him. His honesty gives us a window into the heart of a servant of God caught between the cost of obedience and the compulsion of truth. Ray Stedman’s reflections remind us that Jeremiah was not a stone prophet without emotion, but a man who wrestled deeply with discouragement, much as we do.
Jeremiah’s pain began with his perception of God’s promise. He remembered God’s calling in his youth, the assurance that God would be with him. Yet here he was, in stocks, humiliated, and suffering ridicule. It seemed to him that God had failed His word. Many of us know the sting of similar thoughts when life presses us into corners and prayers seem unanswered. We read God’s promises and quietly ask, “Why is this not working?” Jeremiah gives voice to those feelings we often keep hidden.
Then came the ridicule of people. Unable to counter his words, they turned to mocking him as a person. Their laughter, jeers, and ridicule cut deeply. Mockery often wounds more than physical pain, because it strikes at dignity and honor. Jeremiah’s spirit was weary of being the object of scorn. Stedman points out how easily people choose ridicule when they cannot disprove truth, and how painful that was for this weary prophet.
Finally, Jeremiah faced the turmoil of his own inner conflict. He longed to stop speaking, to walk away from his ministry. Yet every time he resolved to stay silent, God’s word burned within him like fire in his bones. It was impossible to hold it back. This tension is familiar to anyone who has ever wrestled with speaking truth. To remain quiet seems safer, but silence becomes unbearable when God’s Spirit stirs within.
In the honesty of Jeremiah’s complaint, we discover the reality of life with God. Our Lord does not scold Jeremiah for his words, but preserves them in Scripture to show us that He welcomes our lament. At the same time, He shows us that His word, once planted in us, is alive, and it will not be extinguished. What Jeremiah experienced is what every child of God may know in some measure: His word will not return void, and His Spirit will not allow silence where His witness is needed.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My beloved, I have set My word in you as fire, and it will not be quenched. When you walk through seasons of doubt, remember that I am faithful and I do not lie. I cannot deceive you, and I have never abandoned My promise to be with you. When ridicule and mockery come, recall that they mocked My prophets before you and scorned My Son who bore rejection for your sake.
When you are weary of speaking truth, remember that it is not your burden to produce fruit, it is Mine. My word in you is alive and active, sharper than any sword, and it will accomplish what I intend. You are free to rest in Me, knowing that I uphold you and will sustain you when you grow faint.
You are a new creation, united with Jesus in life and purpose. What you once thought impossible has already been accomplished by the Spirit who dwells in you. Trust Me to be your sufficiency in ridicule, in silence, in speaking, and in suffering. I am your portion, your deliverer, and your shield.
Scripture References: Jeremiah 20:7-9, Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 55:11, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 5:11-12, John 15:20, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Peter 4:14
Real-Life Analogy
It is like trying to hold back a sneeze. You can press your lips together, tighten your throat, and resist as long as possible, but eventually the release comes and you cannot stop it. Jeremiah tried to hold in God’s word, but it was as unstoppable as that sneeze, except burning with holy fire. God’s truth inside of us is meant to come out.
In daily life, this might look like being pressed with an opportunity to encourage someone, even when you fear they will dismiss you. Instead of staying silent, you can quietly yield in trust, saying, “Lord, live Your life through me in this moment. Give voice to Your compassion through me.” In that yielding, you discover that it is not you straining to say the right thing, but the Spirit flowing through you with grace and truth.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that Your word is alive within me and cannot be extinguished. Thank You that even when I am tempted to despair, You remain faithful, and Your promises never fail. I rest in the truth that You are with me in ridicule, in silence, and in speaking. I rejoice that Jesus lives His life in me, sustaining me when I am weak and compelling me when I am silent. Today I trust Your Spirit to express Your word through me, and I am confident that it will accomplish what You intend.