August 19
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 45–46, Psalm 105,John 21
Reading Time: ~20–22 minutes (Scripture + devotional, no journaling)
Journal Time: +10–15 minutes for application questions
Journal Time: +10–15 minutes for application questions
Scripture Focus
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You have said, ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest.’ … Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!” — Jeremiah 45:2–5 NLT
“But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return to a life of peace and quiet, and no one will terrorize them. Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.” — Jeremiah 46:27–28 NLT
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.” — Psalm 105:1–5 NLT
Reflection
If you’re new to reading through the Bible in a year, it can be confusing in a standard book order. You might wonder, “Wait, Baruch was over here… now he’s over there?” That’s because Jeremiah isn’t arranged in strict chronological order—it’s probably one of the most mixed-up timelines in the Bible.
That’s why we’re reading chronologically. The chronological order puts events in the time sequence they actually happened—matching the reigns of kings with the prophets who spoke during those times. Here in Jeremiah 45–46, Jeremiah is in prison. Baruch, his faithful scribe, has been writing down the Lord’s messages and delivering them. Now, Baruch begins to feel what Jeremiah had felt earlier. Remember when Jeremiah said he wished he had never been born? (Jeremiah 20:14–18). Baruch now cries out, “I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest” (Jeremiah 45:3).
I love that God doesn’t scold Baruch for feeling tired, discouraged, or even for expressing what sounds like blame toward God for his trials. Instead, God acknowledges the coming destruction of nations but reassures Baruch: “I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go” (Jeremiah 45:5).
After reading this, I can’t help but see it as God’s way of urging Baruch to keep going. Yes, the road ahead would still be hard, but there was a promise at the end—his life would be spared. That assurance wasn’t just about survival; it was God’s personal encouragement to keep pressing on in the work, knowing that faithfulness would not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Then in Jeremiah 46:27–28, God speaks comfort to His people: “Do not be afraid… do not be dismayed… I will bring you home again… you will return to a life of peace and quiet… I am with you.” It echoes His heart in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Baruch’s feelings remind us that even God’s faithful servants—those carrying His word—can feel worn out and overwhelmed. Jeremiah and Baruch were both tasked with proclaiming God’s truth and both felt the weight of that calling. But their feelings didn’t stop them. And they must not stop us either. We keep sharing God’s word, walking in faith, and trusting the Lord’s promise that He will get us through.
And what better way to keep going than to remember all He has done?
Psalm 105 calls us to “give thanks to the Lord… proclaim His greatness… tell everyone about His wonderful deeds… search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.” When we remember His works, our hearts are lifted in 🙌 praise and our weary steps find new strength.
Lesson for Me
Even God’s faithful servants can feel overwhelmed and weary, but His promises give the strength to keep going. Discouragement must never silence God’s word in my life or keep me from sharing it with others.
Application Questions
Prayer 🙏
Lord, thank You for showing me through Baruch and Jeremiah that even Your faithful servants can grow weary—but that You meet them with promises and hope. When I feel overwhelmed, help me remember that You are with me and that my life is secure in Your hands. Give me courage to keep speaking Your truth, even when it costs me something. Remind me of all the ways You’ve been faithful in the past so that my heart will overflow with 🙌 praise today. Strengthen me to walk in faith, trust You through the hard places, and keep pressing on until I see the reward You have promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You have said, ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest.’ … Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!” — Jeremiah 45:2–5 NLT
“But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return to a life of peace and quiet, and no one will terrorize them. Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.” — Jeremiah 46:27–28 NLT
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.” — Psalm 105:1–5 NLT
Reflection
If you’re new to reading through the Bible in a year, it can be confusing in a standard book order. You might wonder, “Wait, Baruch was over here… now he’s over there?” That’s because Jeremiah isn’t arranged in strict chronological order—it’s probably one of the most mixed-up timelines in the Bible.
That’s why we’re reading chronologically. The chronological order puts events in the time sequence they actually happened—matching the reigns of kings with the prophets who spoke during those times. Here in Jeremiah 45–46, Jeremiah is in prison. Baruch, his faithful scribe, has been writing down the Lord’s messages and delivering them. Now, Baruch begins to feel what Jeremiah had felt earlier. Remember when Jeremiah said he wished he had never been born? (Jeremiah 20:14–18). Baruch now cries out, “I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest” (Jeremiah 45:3).
I love that God doesn’t scold Baruch for feeling tired, discouraged, or even for expressing what sounds like blame toward God for his trials. Instead, God acknowledges the coming destruction of nations but reassures Baruch: “I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go” (Jeremiah 45:5).
After reading this, I can’t help but see it as God’s way of urging Baruch to keep going. Yes, the road ahead would still be hard, but there was a promise at the end—his life would be spared. That assurance wasn’t just about survival; it was God’s personal encouragement to keep pressing on in the work, knowing that faithfulness would not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Then in Jeremiah 46:27–28, God speaks comfort to His people: “Do not be afraid… do not be dismayed… I will bring you home again… you will return to a life of peace and quiet… I am with you.” It echoes His heart in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Baruch’s feelings remind us that even God’s faithful servants—those carrying His word—can feel worn out and overwhelmed. Jeremiah and Baruch were both tasked with proclaiming God’s truth and both felt the weight of that calling. But their feelings didn’t stop them. And they must not stop us either. We keep sharing God’s word, walking in faith, and trusting the Lord’s promise that He will get us through.
And what better way to keep going than to remember all He has done?
Psalm 105 calls us to “give thanks to the Lord… proclaim His greatness… tell everyone about His wonderful deeds… search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.” When we remember His works, our hearts are lifted in 🙌 praise and our weary steps find new strength.
Lesson for Me
Even God’s faithful servants can feel overwhelmed and weary, but His promises give the strength to keep going. Discouragement must never silence God’s word in my life or keep me from sharing it with others.
Application Questions
- When I feel discouraged or worn out, how can I remind myself of God’s promises like He gave to Baruch?
- What “reward” or encouragement has God given me in the past that I can look back on for strength today?
- Am I allowing feelings of overwhelm to keep me from speaking or living out God’s truth? If so, what step of faith can I take this week to change that?
- How does remembering all that God has done for me—like Psalm 105 calls us to—renew my determination to keep going?
- Who in my life might need encouragement right now to keep serving the Lord despite their own weariness, and how can I build them up this week?
Prayer 🙏
Lord, thank You for showing me through Baruch and Jeremiah that even Your faithful servants can grow weary—but that You meet them with promises and hope. When I feel overwhelmed, help me remember that You are with me and that my life is secure in Your hands. Give me courage to keep speaking Your truth, even when it costs me something. Remind me of all the ways You’ve been faithful in the past so that my heart will overflow with 🙌 praise today. Strengthen me to walk in faith, trust You through the hard places, and keep pressing on until I see the reward You have promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.