Day 19 — Too Young? Not to God

“But the LORD told me: ‘Do not say, “I am only a child.” For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.’”

— Jeremiah 1:7 (BSB)

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Maybe you have an answer: an engineer, a pilot, a pastor, a builder, a doctor, a pro athlete, a game designer, a firefighter. Maybe you have no idea yet. Both are okay!

God called Jeremiah to be a prophet when he was very young, probably a teenager. God told him that He had known him and chosen him before he was even born.

But Jeremiah’s first reaction was to protest. He told God he didn’t know how to speak, because he was only a child.

Look at God’s answer: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go.” God wasn’t impressed by Jeremiah’s excuse. He didn’t need Jeremiah to be older, bigger or more experienced. He only needed him to be willing. And then God promised: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you.”

You might think that God’s plans for you only start when you’re a grown man. But that’s not true. God can use you right now.

For every Christian, the biggest part of our calling is the same: to love God, to love people, to become more like Jesus and to tell others about Him. You can do all of those things at your age.

God also gives each of us particular ways to serve Him, through our personalities, gifts, interests and the opportunities He puts in front of us. Some of those will become clear as you grow up. Some guys know early what they want to do; others don’t figure it out until much later. And most people have many callings over their lives: son, brother, friend, student, worker, and maybe one day husband and father.

You don’t have to figure it all out now. For today, your calling is to love God, grow in Him, and do today’s work well.

This week, we’ll explore your gifts, the work God gives you, and what He might be calling you to do.

Think about it: Have you ever thought, “I’m too young for God to use me”? What does God’s answer to Jeremiah say to you?

Try this: Ask your parents, “What have you noticed about me that might show what God made me for?”

Dear God, I don’t want to say, “I’m only a kid.” Thank You that You can use me right now. Help me love You, love people, and be willing to go wherever You send me. And show me, step by step, what You made me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.