Once upon a time there was a young man named Jeremiah. He lived in a country where people often forgot God. But God had chosen Jeremiah before he was born. God had a special plan for him!
One day God said to Jeremiah, “I know you before you were born! I have chosen you to be my helper. You will say my words to the people.”
Jeremiah’s eyes widened. He said, “But God, I’m still so young! I don’t know what to say.”
God smiled and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am always with you. I’ll give you the right words.” Then God touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said, “Now I put my words in your mouth. You will tell the people what I give you.”
Jeremiah felt weak at first, but now he knew that God was with him. He dared to tell people what God wanted. Sometimes people had to hear about things that were hard. But Jeremiah knew: God made him strong!
Questions to think about
Have you ever thought that you were too small to do something important?
Do you know that God knows and loves you intimately?
Message of history
God has a plan for you. It makes you strong, even when you think you can’t do something!
Bible passage
The calling and warnings of the prophet Jeremiah are found in
Jeremiah 1:4-10 (Schlachter 2000):
*”Then the word of the Lord came to me:
“Before I formed you in the womb I saw you, and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you; I have appointed you a prophet for the nations!”
Then I said, “Alas, O Lord, Lord, behold, I cannot speak; for I am too young!
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young,’ but you shall go where I send you and say what I command you.
Do not be afraid of them; for I am with you to save you,” says the Lord.
And the Lord stretched out his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, “Behold, I put my words in your mouth.”
Behold, I have set you this day over the peoples and kingdoms, to cut off and to tear down, to destroy and to break down, to build and plant.” *
