Call Unto Me” – A Lesson from the Life of Jeremiah
This was the promise given by God to Jeremiah—a name often understood to mean “Exalt the Lord.” And indeed, Jeremiah’s life did just that.
Jeremiah, ordained by the Lord as a prophet, began his ministry at about 21 years of age and served faithfully for nearly 40 years. He is often remembered as the weeping prophet—a man of lamentation and tears. Though soft-hearted and deeply compassionate, his message was firm, bold, and uncompromising.
He stood almost entirely alone.
He was rejected by his own people, abandoned by many close to him, and opposed by religious leaders. He endured ridicule, isolation, and even imprisonment. Yet despite being despised and misunderstood, he remained a man after God’s own heart. His life teaches us that faithfulness to God does not always bring popularity—but it always brings purpose.
Jeremiah proclaimed God’s word to the Israelites to restore them to their former spiritual state. His heart broke for his nation. He wept day and night for his people, longing for their repentance and renewal.
While he was imprisoned, something remarkable happened:
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying…” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Even in prison, God spoke.
Circumstances could confine Jeremiah’s body, but they could not silence God’s voice.
Jeremiah 33:3 contains three powerful promises:
- “Call unto Me”
- “And I will answer thee”
- “And show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
This verse reveals the heart of God toward His people.
1. “Call unto Me”
God invites us to pray. Prayer is not merely a ritual—it is a relationship. We are called to be people who seek the Lord earnestly. When we call upon Him sincerely, we acknowledge our dependence on Him.
2. “And I will answer thee”
God is not distant. He is a living God who hears and responds. Whatever we ask in His name, He listens. However, prayer has two important aspects:
- Prayer for our personal needs.
- Prayer that seeks to understand God’s will and align with His heart.
Many times, we focus primarily on our own needs. And in His mercy, God still answers. Yet deeper prayer goes beyond requests—it seeks revelation. It asks, “Lord, what is Your will?”
3. “And show thee great and mighty things”
God desires to reveal things beyond our understanding—spiritual truths, divine purposes, and insights we could never grasp on our own. But revelation comes to those who seek Him humbly.
Sometimes we feel that our prayers are unanswered. The delay is not because God is unwilling, but often because our hearts are not yet positioned correctly. Scripture teaches:
“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6)
To be “poor” does not simply mean lacking material wealth. It speaks of humility—a heart emptied of pride, self-reliance, and self-importance. It means coming before God in surrender.
When we humble ourselves, when we lay aside ego and truly depend on Him, our prayers change. They become deeper, more sincere, more aligned with His will. And God responds.
The more humble our prayer, the more powerful our communion with God.
Jeremiah’s life reminds us that:
- Faithfulness may bring hardship.
- Obedience may bring rejection.
- But humility in prayer brings divine revelation.
May God grant us the grace to humble ourselves at all times, to call upon Him earnestly, and to seek not only answers—but His heart.
Source: A paraphrase of a sermon presented by a preacher.
