R
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
But the LORD said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak…”
Jeremiah 1:4-7 ESV

E
Jeremiah was foreknown by God and set apart in God’s plan as a prophet. When Jeremiah heard about this, though, he was afraid he might be ill-equipped. God rebuked and reassured him saying, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.”

The reason Jeremiah should not be concerned about his age is that he is simply going where God tells him and saying what God says.

A
I only need knowledge or age or a certain gravitas if I intend to impart my own truth to someone. But to speak the words of God, as he has commanded, I only need to be able to speak. To assume I need anything other than what God has already supplied me is to call God ill-equipped.

P
God, correct me when I give an excuse not to do what you’ve clearly told me in Scripture to do. If I think my weaknesses disqualify me from your commands, my heart is only trying to avoid things it won’t get credit for. Move me past wanting credit, to wanting to enjoy seeing your name be glorified where it currently is not. If I enjoy that I will be enjoying you yourself.

This post is part of my Weekly REAP series. I’m posting these from my personal journal to share what God is teaching me, and to give some practical examples of the REAP method.  I didn’t write any of these with publishing in mind, so forgive me if they don’t always wax eloquent. Here is some more information on the REAP study method.