Faith in the Mud

Lowered into a muddy pit for speaking truth, Jeremiah showed that faith in the mud can be stronger than fear when we’re fully committed to God.

“They took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah, the king’s son … letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.”—Jeremiah 38:6

How committed was Jeremiah to obeying God? He must have questioned this when he heard the message God asked him to deliver, for the Lord wanted His people to surrender to the Chaldeans! Though Jeremiah may not have wanted to deliver this message, he remained faithful.

After hearing Jeremiah’s message, government officials wanted him killed. To them, he was a traitor, harming the country. Instead, the king allowed them just to persecute Jeremiah. They let him down with ropes into a deep hole filled with mud. We can imagine how he felt as he was being lowered and as he hung there in pain, in the dark, alone, and with no food until eventually, he was freed. Even though he faced persecution like this, Jeremiah remained obedient to God.

When we’re obeying God, we may be criticized or persecuted. We must have a close personal relationship with God and be sure about His will for our lives. We must live in accordance with His Word, be led by His Spirit, and refrain from judging our success based on our circumstances.

If we have any questions or doubts, as Jeremiah frequently did, we need to call on God, check with Him, and make sure we’re in tune with His Word and His Spirit.

Today, make a total commitment to the Lord. Lay aside your personal desires and reputation, your own plans and interests. Seek to please and serve Him.

Reflection Question: What does faith look like to you in muddy places?