Daily Devotional – Wednesday, May 20, 2026
If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?
Jeremiah 12:5 (NKJV)
Prophet Jeremiah was upset. He had been faithful to God, but his life was full of opposition, rejection and disappointment. The wicked, on the other hand, seemed to live comfortably and prosper with impunity. The prophet wondered why things felt so unfair. How did God respond to the seer? He employed a vivid picture that Jeremiah was familiar with.
When God Prepares Us for Harder Seasons
In Jeremiah’s world, foot soldiers represented manageable opponents, while horses pointed to faster and more intense enemies. God was not mocking Jeremiah or dismissing his pain. He was preparing His prophet for the reality that his calling would become more difficult. The Lord knew what was ahead, and He wanted Jeremiah to develop the endurance and spiritual strength necessary for future seasons of pressure and responsibility.
Many of us know what it is to become tired from the struggles of life. Sometimes problems at work, tension at home, financial pressure, disappointment, or emotional exhaustion drain us. We may quietly wonder how we will cope if life becomes even harder. Present difficulties often reveal how limited our strength really is and how deeply we still need God’s help each day.
The Hidden Purpose Behind Difficult Seasons
God reminds us that spiritual maturity is usually formed gradually. He often prepares us for greater pressures in the future by allowing us to face lesser challenges today. Difficult seasons tend to develop patience, build faith, and teach us how to depend on Him in ways that comfortable seasons seldom do. Growth may not always be pleasant in the moment, but God is often doing important work under the surface in those moments.
Ultimately, God’s answer to Jeremiah filled the prophet with hope, not despair. The Lord was not abandoning His servant. He was strengthening him for what lay ahead. Today, if you are feeling exhausted and are almost giving up, remember that God may be building endurance, wisdom and steadiness in your life for upcoming challenges, which you cannot fathom presently.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, strengthen my heart through present struggles and help me remain faithful in the challenges ahead.
