Jeremiah 15

This chapter contains one of several personal prayers by Jeremiah that were written down for posterity. And it comes as no surprise that Jeremiah’s not having a pleasant time of it: “Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake… Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails.” (vs 15, 18)

I find something so refreshing about the honesty of Jeremiah’s prayer. How many of us are truly that honest with God when it comes to prayer? Would we dare tell God that we hope our boss drops dead of a heart attack? Or that we wish He’d blow out the tire of the jerk who cut us off on the highway? Would we dare tell God that we think He’s a failure, a liar, a good-for-nothing who doesn’t keep His promises?

Here’s the problem with not being honest in prayer: When we’re not honest with God about what’s really on our hearts and minds, we’re not even dealing with reality. If we “pretty ourselves up” before we pray, if we say “the things we should” because we’re talking to God, if we’re careful to not “step over the line,” we’re no different than those Israelites who had reduced their worship experience to a handful of meaningless rituals.

God doesn’t want your prayers because He wants prayer. He wants your prayers because He wants you. So, if you’re not being authentic when you pray, what’s the point?

Jeremiah poured out his heart to God and didn’t hold anything back. He freely expressed his anger, hurt, disappointment, loneliness, and fear. And, as shocking as that is, I found God’s response to Jeremiah even more shocking: “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you.’” (vs 19)

Repent? Really?

Of course, that word repent means to turn around, to come back. It was the very message Jeremiah had been sent to give to the Israelites, and now, here was God giving it right back to Jeremiah! Yes, even God’s prophet needed to repent, to turn around. He needed to return to the reality that God was bigger than all his troubles (vs 20-21).

God doesn’t attend pity parties. He wants us to be honest with Him in prayer—not so He can sympathize with us, but so He can help us! I think God was very, very glad to hear all about Jeremiah’s pain and difficulty. I think He was pleased that Jeremiah was honest about his emotions. But in response, God did the thing that was the best, most loving thing He does for any of us: He told Jeremiah to focus his eyes right back on heaven.

Forget your feelings, Jeremiah. You have acknowledged them, now don’t wallow in them. Turn back to Me. I’m the One with all the answers. As long as you’re looking down, you’re in trouble.

The more I thought about this, the more I realized that this is a pattern of behavior for God. Can you think of a time—any time in Biblical history—when He indulged Himself or any of His creatures in their self-pity? Can you think of a time when He encouraged anyone to focus on their feelings or wallow in their depression?

God wants you to be brutally honest with Him, but if you’re expecting Him to jump on the “Awww, poor you” bandwagon, you’re going to be quite disappointed. God isn’t interested in validating our feelings; He’s interested in helping us overcome them by bringing us back to reality.

God doesn’t attend pity parties. He teaches us how to stop being pity-full.