God has a beautiful plan for your life. Remain faithful to God.
In the face of loss, I chose to remain faithful to the Lord. In fact, I ran to God for help. I attended church and worshiped with my church family after my son passed away. Being present with a community of faith who loved my son brought joy to my heart.
While I was grieving, I turned to the Bible for help. In the book of Jeremiah, I learned that Jeremiah remained faithful to God in the face of tragedy. Jeremiah knew that God had a plan for his life. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5) God encouraged him not to fear his enemies, “for I am with you and will rescue you.” (v. 8)
God set Jeremiah apart for ministry. Scriptures tell us that God appointed him as a prophet at a young age. He received a call from God and was asked not to marry anyone or have any children of his own. Jeremiah’s ministry lasted for over 40 years and coincided with the reigns of five kings of Judah including Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.
Jeremiah served God with a broken heart. He was known as the weeping prophet because his heart broke over the unfavorable condition of his people. His heart ached and his ministry was difficult. God sent him to deliver a hard message that required the people to repent and change their lives. Unfortunately, not everyone responded to his message favorably. Several traumatic events happened during Jeremiah’s ministry including Israel’s disobedience. This disobedience prompted the exile of the Israelites and their captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire.
Jeremiah lived through all of the disasters that were bestowed upon him. Every time he was in trouble, God protected him through the help of others. The book of Jeremiah does not tell us when Jeremiah died; instead, it says that he kept going, living his life to the fullest, despite hardship, loss, and difficulties. Suffering created meaning in Jeremiah’s life. Jeremiah continually had great spiritual faith and strength. Through everything he experienced in life, Jeremiah never gave up on God.
Meaning can be created from suffering. Jeremiah saw people slaughtered, enslaved, and scattered. Every step of the way, God protected him by using people to carry out His purpose. Though his ministry never thrived and people never repented, he remained faithful to God. Jeremiah was resilient in the face of tragedy. God’s compassion for him shows us the heart of the Father, who yearns for everyone to turn to Him.
Some lessons I take away from this story are to never give up on God, despite experiencing loss. In my heart, I know that my son is no longer suffering. In heaven, he is in the arms of Jesus Christ. In my ministry, I strive to be like Jeremiah. I choose to remain faithful to God who has a beautiful plan for my life.