A good portion of the Bible has to do with God and man pleading with others to turn from their wicked ways and flee from the destruction toward which they are headed. Even so a large part of every pastor’s time is spent doing the same. And, although much needed, it can be a very painful experience.
It is heartbreaking watching people wreck and ruin their lives. And, try as you may, you just cannot stop some people from doing so. They are determined to live as they please without any regard for what pleases God. Not only do they resist your efforts and reject your warnings, they resent what they believe is your intrusion into their life. That leaves you brokenhearted. You know from experience that God’s Word is true, God’s will is right, and God’s way is best, but you are unable to convince them that it is so.
This disappointing experience has a way of draining your energy, dragging you down, and deepening your depression to the point that you feel like quitting. That’s what happened to Jeremiah (Jer. 20:7-13). And, make no mistake about it, if it could happen to him it could happen to you or me. Although a noble trait, there is a high price to pay for a tender heart. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was overwhelmed because he could not bear to see the destruction of his people (Lam.3:48). That is a feeling well known by many pastors, parents and others. To see those you love hurt hurts! To see them hurt by things over which they have no control is painful, to see them do it to themselves is even more so. Self-destruction is senseless.
However, as disheartening as this is we must not quit. Although our efforts prove to be in vain in some instances, our persistence will prove profitable in others. While we can’t reach everybody, we can reach somebody, and that makes the effort worthwhile! Don’t give up!
