"TOUGHEN UP" The sports world starts training athletes to compete at very young ages. There is a process of moving from little league up to professional status. Scouts start watching athletic abilities of the young and they try to recruit the best to be a part of their team. They watch how well they do at their present level and, once recruited, they train them for the competition ahead. If they cannot effectively handle the competition and challenges where they are, recruitment to another level will not happen.
Jeremiah was a great prophet to Judah. He was disgusted with the people but he was also disappointed with the way God was handling things. In chapter 12 of his book, Jeremiah goes to God with a formal complaint. He was not pleased because it seemed that the righteous were suffering and the wicked were prospering. Life did not seem fair to the Prophet.
God does not deny the challenges that Jeremiah and the people were facing but He warns them that the challenges ahead will be greater. He refers to the previous challenges as footmen and the pending challenges as horses. "If thou has run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?"
God was telling Jeremiah to toughen up. Life is tough, but you are tougher. What hurts you today makes you stronger tomorrow. Rather than lighter burdens, sometimes God plans to give us stronger backs. Tough people always outlast tough times. Toughen up!
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