Jeremiah 20  There is so much anguish in this chapter.. Jeremiah is beaten and put into stocks.. he is denounced, rejected, abused, and ridiculed... He doesn't even want to speak anymore.. but finds that he can't keep it in.. 

"Yet, O Lord of hosts, Thou who dost test the righteous, Who sees the mind and the heart; Let me see Thy vengeance on them; for to Thee I have set forth my cause. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of the evildoers." (V12-13)

Even in the darkest time of his life.. even when he felt that it would have been better had he never been born.. Jeremiah was God's man who proclaimed God's Words.. and he praised God through it all. 

The country was about to be taken. The temple would be destroyed along with the city.  The people would go into exile. And, Jeremiah would be unable to control what was happening in his own life.. yet.. he was in the center of God's will.. fulfilling His purpose.. praising Him in the midst of it all. 

This is what it means to lay down your life and take up your cross and follow Jesus.  It is not easy. It is not comfortable. It is not all joy and happiness.  It is often a struggle.. a discouragement.. a trial.. a sorrow.  May we, like Jeremiah.. learn to sing to the Lord through those times.. to the praise and glory of our great God!

Father, You see our hearts and minds.  Lead us in Your ways and give us Your strength to keep on singing!

amen.