It's all in His hands.
The Lord tells Jeremiah to speak again to His people and commands him, "Do not diminish a word." Jeremiah obeys and delivers exactly what the Lord gives him. But his obedience is met with opposition. The priests and prophets believe Jeremiah deserves to die for prophesying against the city.
"Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death." Jeremiah 26:24
Let me first say, we shouldn't make ourselves the martyr or victim every time we face difficulty. Not every hardship is the result of obedience. But there are times when following Jesus comes with a cost. Obedience can bring opposition, rejection, hardship, and even physical danger.
I've heard it said, "The most secure place to be is in the will of the Lord." Following God doesn't mean nothing painful will happen to us. Jeremiah's life certainly proves that. But it does mean that even in suffering, we remain in the sovereign hands of a faithful God.
Jeremiah obeyed, opposition came, and God used Ahikam to preserve his life. The help may not have come in the way Jeremiah expected, and his road of obedience certainly wasn't easy, but God had not lost control.
The same is true for us.
Follow Jesus. Even in the difficulties. Even when the path seems hard. Follow Him when obedience costs you something. Follow Him when you cannot see how everything will work out. Follow Jesus.
We aren't promised an easy road, but we are promised a faithful God.
Nothing catches Him by surprise. Nothing is outside His sovereign authority. Whatever He allows us to walk through, we can trust that our lives remain in His hands.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.