So I was reading the Bible tonight, and had a bit of a revelation. Check out this passage from Jeremiah 1:
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “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.”6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 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.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
Are you seeing what I’m seeing? Jeremiah is a “youth.” He’s a teenager! Maybe early college age, but definitely very young.
For some reason, I’ve always imagined the prophets of God in the Bible being old men. You know … long white beards, bald heads, frightening eyebrows … But when I came across this passage, it was like a light got flicked on!
When God called Samuel the Prophet, Samuel was just a little boy.
When Jesus wandered off and got into a deep theological discussion with the elders in the temple, he was only 12.
Jesus quoted Psalm 8 when He said, ““Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies [God has] prepared praise’”
And Jesus entire ministry – all the amazing sermons, miracles, teachings, and acts – was complete before he even hit 35. He is believed to have died on the cross and risen from the dead when he was but 33 … not even middle aged!
Conclusion: God does not need our worldly experience. God does not need experts, seasoned veterans, educated philosophers, or sages with extensive resumes. God can work through us right now, with all our naivety, weakness, inexperience, uncertainty, and inadequacy.
As Paul wrote to Timothy: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
So don’t worry about what “they” might think. Do good. Speak the truth. Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone, because God Himself is working through you, for you, and all around you. <3
