How can we trust God when feeling like a "deceptive brook" in Jeremiah 15:18? The Cry of Jeremiah “Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive brook, like waters that fail?” (Jeremiah 15:18) A “Deceptive Brook” Explained • In arid regions a wadi can look promising in the rainy season, only to dry up when water is most needed. • Jeremiah feels God’s care has vanished just when his suffering peaks. • The prophet is voicing real anguish, not unbelief; Scripture records his words so we can know God welcomes honesty (cf. Psalm 62:8). Why the Brook Seems Dry • Unrelenting pain (physical, emotional, spiritual). • Apparent silence in prayer (Psalm 13:1). • Opposition for obedience (Jeremiah 15:10). • Limited human perspective—we see the moment, God sees the whole story (Isaiah 55:8-9). God’s Immediate Answer “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you return, I will restore you… I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.’” (Jeremiah 15:19-21) • God calls Jeremiah back to trust. • God reaffirms His unchanging purpose. • God promises protection and deliverance, not absence of struggle. Timeless Reasons We Can Trust God • His character is unchanging—“God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). • His covenant love never ends—“Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • He remembers us even more than a mother her child (Isaiah 49:15). • Even when we are faithless, “He remains faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13). • Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Practical Steps to Strengthen Trust When the Brook Feels Dry 1. Pour out your complaint honestly (Psalm 142:2). 2. Rehearse God’s past faithfulness—keep a journal of answered prayer (Psalm 77:11-12). 3. Anchor in written promises—memorize verses like Proverbs 3:5-6. 4. Engage in corporate worship—others’ faith bolsters ours (Hebrews 10:24-25). 5. Serve someone else—acts of love redirect focus and reveal God’s provision (Galatians 6:9-10). 6. Wait expectantly—“Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Living Illustrations • David lamented, “Why have You forgotten me?” yet concluded, “Hope in God” (Psalm 42:9, 11). • Habakkuk wrestled with silence, then declared, “The righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). • Christ Himself cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46), proving God’s plan can include seasons that feel like abandonment yet lead to ultimate redemption. The Brook Will Flow Again God did preserve Jeremiah through siege, rejection, and exile. The promise proved true. Our seasons of dryness will also give way because the Lord is “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 17:13). Trust rests not in how full the stream looks today but in the unchanging Source who guarantees it will flow in His perfect time. |
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