I am sure at times we have all asked this question.
Jeremiah lays his heart before the Lord. He has faithfully ministered to Jerusalem, yet they have responded with hatred. He has wept over them, but now he is weeping because of them.
He asks the Lord: "Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?" Jeremiah 12:1
Jeremiah is wrestling with something we have all wrestled with at some point: Why do those who do wrong sometimes seem to prosper while those who seek to obey God suffer?
Jeremiah is obeying the Lord, yet his obedience has brought him rejection, pain, and sorrow. Meanwhile, those around him who have rejected God appear to be succeeding.
I'm sure we've asked similar questions:
Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to those who seek to do what is right?
The Lord's response reminds Jeremiah he cannot see the whole picture. God challenges him to trust Him even when the circumstances are difficult. Jeremiah may not understand everything God is doing, but God does.
We are reading the inspired Word of God, and God allowed Jeremiah's life, suffering, faithfulness, and words to become part of His eternal revelation. What looked like failure in the moment was not outside of God's purpose.
God is handling the bigger picture.
He holds eternity in His hands. He is just. He is righteous. Nothing escapes His notice, and no injustice will ultimately go unanswered. Vengeance belongs to Him. Judgment belongs to Him. In His perfect wisdom, He will make all things right according to His perfect purposes.
Do you trust that? Do you trust Him?
That doesn't mean we will receive every answer to our questions in the moment. Jeremiah didn't. But we can rest in the One who knows what we do not know and sees what we cannot see.
Take comfort in who He is.
Circumstances will pass.
He will remain.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.