On God's Side

A Reflection on the First Reading for January 30th, 2022:
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Jeremiah
1.4-5, 17-19

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.

“Therefore, gird up your loins; stand up and tell the people everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them. And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against the whole land — against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.

“They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”
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I don’t like conflict. This surprises some people, because I have a reputation for being outspoken, but there’s a big difference between sharing my opinion on Twitter and actually having a difficult conversation! When facing disagreement, my first instinct is to stay quiet until I find something we can agree on. But there are times when healthy conflict is important, and I sometimes struggle to speak up even when I know I need to say what I think is right. 


So the first time I read this passage from Jeremiah, I have to confess that my heart sank a little. Girding my loins and going to war is the last thing I want to do! God is honest with Jeremiah that his enemies will fight him. I can’t even handle raised voices or the thought that someone might not like me. I don’t want to be a fortified city. I’d rather be a small, unimportant village, please — one no one bothers. 


Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Jesus is the best example of this — when He spoke welcoming messages of love and forgiveness to the poor and to sinners, He angered many others. He told the truth, and the truth comforted many but also scared some. Today is no different, and a big reason I try to avoid hard conversations is precisely because I know that not everyone will want to hear what I have to say, even if I firmly believe it’s true. 


But in returning to this passage several times, I found a lot of comfort in it as well. God is clear that, because Jeremiah is bringing His message, He will protect him. God promises to deliver Jeremiah, and assures him that He will not let him be crushed by his enemies. The battles will be hard, but God and those on God’s side will prevail. 


This is both scary and freeing. If I feel called to speak up and tell the truth — especially about my faith and the God I love so dearly — He’s not going to let me be defeated. There might be a battle, which will push me way out of my comfort zone, but sometimes I need to remind my anxiety that going out of my comfort zone is not a guarantee of certain death! As God says to Jeremiah, He also says to me: I formed you, I dedicated you, I appointed you. He had me in mind for this crucial conversation, not anyone else, and He’s with me in the tough moments. Under His wing, I can find the courage to speak truth in love. 




Jenna Young

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