I think Jeremiah 1:12 is one of the greatest promises in Scripture: “I am watching over my word to perform it.” Most stress is caused by a lack of trust. We don’t trust God to do His job. Why? We’re control freaks. But here is the problem: we can’t do what God has called us to do. Only God can do it. And He will do it. He is watching over His word to perform it.
Take a deep breath. Now let it out. That is the effect Jeremiah 1:12 has on me. Takes all the pressure off of me! I constantly remind myself that I cannot do it. And in some strange way, it helps me relax. It also keeps me in a place of raw dependence upon God. And that is the most peaceful and powerful place on the planet.
Does any of that grab you? I’ll tell you which phrase caught my attention: We can’t do what God has called us to do. “Of course we can,” I thought. But as I reflect on it, no, we really CAN’T do what GOD’S called us to do. We can do lots of things, lots of good things, in fact. But the things GOD calls us to do can only be done in His strength.
So, if I’m doing things in my own strength, am I doing what GOD’S called me to do, or what I’ve chosen to do? Something to think about.
