Trusting God's Promises:
Jeremiah’s Prayer

The prophet Jeremiah had just obeyed a strange and difficult command: to buy a field in a city already under siege. It made no practical sense. But Jeremiah obeyed—and then he prayed. In Jeremiah 32:16–25, we witness a remarkable prayer that combines deep faith with honest questioning, a model for how to trust God when life doesn't make sense.

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah begins not with complaint, but with praise. He affirms God’s sovereignty, power, and faithfulness. In doing so, he anchors his heart in what is unchanging—even as everything around him crumbles.

He goes on to recount God’s faithfulness throughout Israel’s history: “You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders.” Remembering God’s past acts isn’t just storytelling—it’s faith-building. In seasons of doubt, recalling God’s previous provision becomes a lifeline to hope. It reminds us that what God has done before, He can do again.

Then Jeremiah gets to the heart of his prayer: “You told me, ‘Buy the field’… but the city will fall to the Babylonians.” There’s no denial here. Jeremiah sees the contradiction between what God has promised and what he’s currently witnessing. And instead of hiding his confusion, he brings it into the conversation. He prays as a man caught between obedience and uncertainty—and he’s honest about both.

This kind of prayer invites us into deeper relationship with God. It gives us permission to say, “God, I trust You—but I don’t fully understand what You’re doing.” Jeremiah teaches us that real faith doesn’t silence our questions—it brings them before the One who already knows our hearts.

So what do we learn from this prayer?

• Ground your prayers in who God is. Start with His character—sovereign, powerful, faithful.
• Remember what He’s done. Let past deliverance feed present trust.
• Be honest. God welcomes your confusion, your doubts, and your longing for clarity.
• Obey anyway. Even when the step makes no sense, take it in faith.

Sometimes trusting God looks like buying a field in a war zone—because you believe that He sees beyond the present moment. And sometimes, the strongest prayers are the ones that say, “I don’t understand—but I’m still listening.”