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The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

"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."

"Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young."

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

- Jeremiah 1: 4-10

I love the image of God physically putting His words into Jeremiah's mouth. I love it because it renders all our excuses and fears useless. I love it because it's God saying to us that He is always with us, that He wants us to rely on Him, and that He trusts us with His words. I love it because it forces us to stop being selfish.

And also, it blows my mind that God gave Jeremiah a power that goes beyond government authority and worldly structures; a power that is able to destroy and rebuild nations. If He trusted Jeremiah with that, what power has He given me?