Divine Calling

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026

A little bit longer in the Major Prophets to prepare us to receive the New Testament this summer. Stay with it! For now, you may want to watch this Overview of the Book of Jeremiah from the Bible Project to orient yourself as we survey Jeremiah’s prophecy and lament over the human condition that points us toward the Gospel of Jesus.

Welcome to one of the most tender and terrifying narratives in all of Scripture, highlighting the tension between God’s judgment and God’s grace. Jeremiah 1 opens with God speaking to a young man (Jeremiah) in a small village called Anathoth. The word He speaks is awesome: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). Let that land, because it applies to you too. God’s knowledge of Jeremiah preceded his existence. His calling was sewn into him before he ever drew a first breath. The sovereign, initiating love of God is not a response to human performance, but the origin of human identity.

Jeremiah’s immediate response is relatable: “I don’t know how to speak; I am too young” (Jeremiah 1:6). We’ve all been there, convinced that our inadequacy disqualifies us from what God has called us to. But God’s reply is direct and disarming: “Do not say ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you” (Jeremiah 1:7-8). The call is not based on competence; it is anchored in the presence of the One who sends. This is the pattern running all the way from Moses at the burning bush to Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7): God consistently chooses the unlikely and meets them with His sufficiency.

Psalm 138 echoes this beautifully: “The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever… do not abandon the works of your hands” (Psalm 138:8). You are God’s workmanship. His call on your life preceded your doubts and insecurities.

Devotional Prompts:

Where in your own life have you said “I am too young” or “I am too inadequate” and what would it look like to let God’s “I am with you” be the authoritative word?
How does Jeremiah 1:5 (“before I formed you in the womb I knew you”) speak to your sense of identity, worth, or purpose right now?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You knew us before we knew ourselves, and Your call on our lives is not contingent on our confidence. Wherever we feel too small, too broken, or too unqualified, remind us that Your presence is the only credential that matters. Make us bold in the mission You have placed before us. Amen.