Jeremiah had a difficult life. God called him to speak a message of punishment to the people, and because of this, they hated him, and even his own family plotted against him. He did not enjoy proclaiming such a message and antagonizing everyone, but it was the message that God commanded him to speak, and that he inspired in the prophet by the Spirit.

Thus in one place we read, “Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:8-9). Christians often cite verse 9 to express their eagerness to preach the gospel, but we insult Jeremiah if we ignore the original context. His task was to tell the people that God would send Israel’s enemies to slaughter them and to capture them. This would come as punishment against their idolatry and disobedience. The decision was made, and judgment could not be averted. It was too late. God told Jeremiah that, even if Moses and Samuel were to pray for the people, he would not listen.

Jeremiah did not want to proclaim such a harsh message, but God wanted him to do it, and he placed such a spiritual compulsion in the earthen vessel that, even when the prophet decided to fold up his ministry, the fire burned within him until it was impossible to endure. He opened his mouth again, and “violence and destruction” came out. As Paul wrote, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22, KJV). This is the kind of God we serve. When sinners aggravate him enough, he kills them and sends them to hell, and it is the right thing to do.

James wrote that Elijah was a man just like us. But he mentioned this so that we could imitate his example of faith in prayer (James 5:17), and not so that we could run when Jezebel pursues. If you stop the rain for three and a half years, then you might have an excuse to have a pity-party – well, not even then. In any case, if all you know to do is run when someone pursues, you are no Elijah.

Jeremiah was also a man like us, and he was feeling the pressure from the opposition, and exasperated, he prayed, “You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (12:1). There seems to be a consensus in Christian literature, except for some Pentecostal and Charismatic writings that are often accused of a warped understanding of faith, that this kind of complaining prayer is worthy of emulation. Christians are encouraged to vent their frustrations to God, even in a questioning and accusatory tone. This is counsel for spiritual losers, from spiritual losers. They appeal to the prophets and the psalms for support, but they fail to mention how God responded to this attitude.

For example, Asaph was disturbed by the prosperity of the wicked in Psalm 73, but he admitted that he was wrong, that his foot almost slipped, and that he was senseless and ignorant, and as a brute beast before the Lord. In other words, he should never have thought the way he did. But if even Asaph had no excuse, why do you think you have one, when you have the benefit of Psalm 73 and so much more? We ought to appeal to the prophets and the psalms to forbid this type of attitude and prayer. If you cannot say something reverent to God, shut your mouth, and read the answer that he has already given in the Bible. Then, begin your prayer with repentance for your weak faith and blasphemous emotions.

Jeremiah was a spiritual winner. That was his destiny. And God was not about to let him think like a loser – perhaps someone like you. So he said to the prophet, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” In other words, “If you cannot keep up now, and if you stumble now, how will you succeed when things become even more difficult?” This is counsel for a spiritual winner, one who is destined for increasing greatness in the service of God.

Most of our troubles are nothing like the threats that Jeremiah faced, and the degree of faith and patience that he exhibited would be unfathomable for today’s Christians. Thus to bring it down to their level, I might say, “If you are now immobilized with grief because your pet gerbil died, how can you encourage someone whose children perished in an accident, and how will you fight off atheists and heretics?” Understand?

God’s counsel is stern when measured by the delicate and effeminate sentiments of modern Christianity. He challenges us to renounce our self-pity and unbelief by presenting to us even greater difficulties. He refuses to relax his demand for excellence. This is contrary to the loser mentality of non-Christian psychology, and that have poisoned the teachings of Christian preachers and counselors. Our Lord Jesus is not one who says, “I know, I know, just let it all out…,” but one who exclaims, “How long do I have to be stuck with you? How long do I have to put up with this? Man, where is your faith?” (see Matthew 17:17, Luke 8:25). He wants his disciples to be spiritual winners. Ironically, today his approach would be considered unchristian, lacking in love and refinement.