Do Not Say, ‘I Am Only…’ | Trusting God’s Call (Jeremiah 1:4–10)

First Reading

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

JEREMIAH 1:4-10

Sermon: The Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor

The sermon begins with a short responsive reading you can follow on the screen. Please join in where it is bolded. Hear the words of the prophet Jeremiah, spoken directly to you:

[GOD]

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

Before you were born, I set you apart.

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

[EVERYONE]

But Lord, I’m not ready.

I’m too young. Too inexperienced.

I don’t have the right words. I’m not strong enough.

You must be thinking of someone else.

[GOD]

Do not say, “I am only…”

Do not let fear shrink your calling.

You will go where I send you.

You will speak what I command.

Do not be afraid of them—

For I am with you. I will rescue you.

[NARRATOR]

And then—God reaches out.

You feel it: a touch, not on your skin,

but deep within your spirit.

A jolt of heat, a pulse of courage,

a whisper of strength in your bones.

[GOD]

I have put my words in your mouth.

Today I appoint you:

To uproot and to tear down,

to destroy and overthrow,

to build and to plant.

[NARRATOR]

This is not just Jeremiah’s story.

This is your story.

This is God’s voice to you.

You are known.

You are called.

You are sent.

Now let’s reflect together on what these words mean for us.

Scripture often speaks of our relationship with God before birth:

In today’s Psalm we heard, “I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother’s womb you have been my strength.” Psalm 139: “For it was you, God, who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.” Isaiah 44: “Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you: Do not fear.”

These verses, and our reading from Jeremiah, are not answering modern questions. Their purpose is not biological… it is poetic, theological, painting a picture of a God who is intimate…a God who has been close to us from the very beginning of our lives, who knows the depths of who we truly are.

And with God forming us and knowing us so well, God calls us, just as God called Jeremiah.

But notice, Jeremiah doesn’t eagerly jump at the call. He hesitates: “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”

Jeremiah defines himself by what he thinks he lacks — and we often do the same: I’m not old enough. I’m too old. I’m not educated enough. I’ve made too many mistakes. I’m too tired. Too anxious.

We measure ourselves by what we see in the mirror or by what others have said about us. Sometimes we even believe we know ourselves better than God — and that God could never call us. The truth of a God who knows us so completely can feel more frightening than comforting. We carry shame and regrets, and we wonder: if God really sees all of that, how could God still choose me?

But God interrupts Jeremiah—and us—saying: ‘Do not say, I am only…’ In that moment, God breaks through, reminding us that we are more than we think, more than we can imagine.

And then comes the reassurance: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.” God reaches out and touches Jeremiah’s mouth — another intimate image — placing words, courage, and authority directly into him. God does not just call; God equips.

The question for us is this: do we trust that the God who formed us, who knows every weakness and every fear, still loves us and calls us? Do we believe that God gives us what we need so we can go into places we never imagined going?

For me, living this trust in God is really tough. I felt that God called me to go to Edinburgh for university, but it was not easy to decide to go. I didn’t feel ready, and doubted myself constantly. I was afraid things wouldn’t work out, I wouldn’t have enough money, I wouldn’t find a job to help with bills. While there, sitting in classes, surrounded by confident male students, I couldn’t see myself as good enough. One lower grade and I was sure I was a failure who should just pack up and go back to Canada.

It took a lot of work to trust — to believe that somehow God knew me better than I knew myself, and that God would not let me go, no matter what happened. But even with the positive experience in Edinburgh, my trust in God isn’t perfect… even now, some days I still wonder if I’ve made the right choices. Trusting God doesn’t mean every risk will turn out the way we hope, but it does mean we are never alone in the risk.

Our work as people of faith is to keep learning to trust. It will never be 100% perfect. But as we take risks and struggle, we grow stronger — and we discover again and again that God is with us. And as we live in this way, we find courage to step into the life God calls us to — even when it feels risky, even when our instinct is to say, “I am only…” God’s intimate knowledge of us is meant to free us. To remind us that no matter what we think, say, do, God still chooses to call us, because God knows the very depths of who we are. So hear God’s word again: “Do not say, ‘I am only…’ Do not be afraid. For I am with you.”

Let us pray:

O God of all the prophets, you knew us and chose us before you formed us in the womb. You know us more deeply than we know ourselves, and still you love us. Give us courage to trust that love, even when we doubt, even when the risk feels too great. Free us from fear, and lead us into the life you call us to. Amen.