The pilgrim's progress

“ If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace,In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain[a] of the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5

Read this for morning devotion. Had been in the book of Jeremiah for very long. I never quite gone through this book with intent. Still unable to comprehend fully.

But this verse comes from the mouth of God, a stark rebuke to Jeremiah question and plead for God to send judgement to wickedness, and life seems so unfair that the wicked are prospering.

As I meditate over this passage. A few thoughts came over. Jeremiah did not ask this out of jealousy but out of frustration.

He called for judgement on his own people. The ways of a man who love God does not delight in wickedness, whether within or with-out. Jeremiah perceived by sight not faith. God answered that His statues are sure. The wickedness would be punished, eventually.

The heart of Jeremiah is one of intense weariness. God direct his thoughts towards his situation. Unfair it seems. Weary it seems. And it is. But God relents not to tell him, he will suffer more. He will see more. More trials shall enter his life.

His everyday struggle with what seemingly unfairness in the light of wickedness prospering is not the delight of his soul. He will suffer even more hardship.

A life of sight will weary you intensely. Neither would it go away, even you have a life of faith.

But the life of faith accepts the words in Jer 12:5.

And it drives us to be weary.

Weariness in God desires a more needy faith.

And a more assuring promise.

It produces a need for endurance. Hence the words from God says,“ If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, hen how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you,Then how will you do in the floodplain[a] of the Jordan?"

God tells Jeremiah - Endure and be assured in God. You need more in the days to come. And I will give more things that you have need to endure.

Faith will grow when you endure.

That is the progress of the pilgram. A life separated to thrust God alone.

O wearied Christian. Where lies your rest?

I pray for myself this morning. Come to the sure fountain of God. Wearied and wounded but never cast down nor cast out.

A rest so precious that you want it more. Progress as a pilgram. Progress in this gift of faith.