Read: Jeremiah 17-21
Judah is in a place of deep rebellion here in Jeremiah. It is not just that they are making a few bad choices, it is that sin has become something deeply rooted in them. Jeremiah says their sin is engraved in iron, which shows how permanent and hardened it has become in their hearts and actions (Jeremiah 17:1). This is what happens when disobedience is not dealt with; it stops being something that you do and starts becoming something that you are living in.
A big issue that we see over and over again is where people place their trust. Instead of relying on the Lord, we often trust in people, political parties, celebrities, and other forms of human wisdom. Historically, this makes sense in Judah’s final years before exile, where leaders kept trying to secure safety through alliances with other nations instead of returning to God. But every time they chose human help over God’s direction, it pulled them further away from Him instead of closer.
In Jeremiah 17, God makes it very clear:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” -Jeremiah 17:5
This is not saying that we should never rely on people, but it is showing what happens when people become the source of our ultimate confidence. When trust shifts off of God, the heart slowly turns with it.
Then we read the alternative:
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” -Jeremiah 17:7
There is a clear difference here between a life built on human strength and a life built on God, the Rock. One leads to instability, the other leads to being steady even when circumstances are not.
God being holy means He does not overlook sin, but it also does not cancel out His mercy. He is patient, but He is not indifferent. Throughout Scripture, repentance is always more than just feeling bad or guilty about your wrongdoings. It is turning, shifting direction, and breaking the pattern that keeps pulling you away from Him.
While we shift and transform ourselves, God is also working to shift and transform us.
“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.” -Jeremiah 18:6
This image would have been very familiar in their time. Pottery was common work, so they understood exactly what Jeremiah was describing. The point is that God is not passive. He is actively shaping, forming, and working with His people.
Anyone else terrible at ceramics?? Clay can be reshaped, but it still has to be willing to be shaped. If it hardens, it resists the work of the potter. That is where the warning and the hope sit together. God is not limited in His ability to restore, but resistance over time hardens what He is trying to form.
Then in Jeremiah 20, we see something very real. Jeremiah is honest with God about how heavy everything feels. He is frustrated, he is worn down, and he is not hiding it. But what is important is that he is still talking to God. This is not walking away from God, it is bringing his full emotion into relationship with God. It shows that God is not intimidated by honesty. He can handle the weight of what we are feeling, even when it is messy or uncomfortable.
At the same time, Jeremiah still keeps going. Even when it is hard, even when it costs him something, he continues in what God called him to do. That tension is real in faith, trusting God does not always feel easy, but it is still the right place to stay.
At the end of all of this, the message is pretty clear. What we trust shapes where we end up. If we trust in people or our own strength, it eventually leads to instability. But when we trust in the Lord, even in seasons that feel hard or uncertain, there is a steadiness that holds us.
Discussion Questions
- What does it look like for your heart to become “hardened” over time?
- How do you respond when you feel emotionally worn out in your faith like Jeremiah did?
- Are there areas where God might be trying to reshape you, but you have been resistant?
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A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest
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