Before You Were Born: God’s Call in Jeremiah 1 and My Journey from Ministry to Marketplace

Jeremiah 1 opens with one of the most personal and profound truths in all of Scripture. God says to a young prophet, “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.” Those words reveal something far bigger than Jeremiah’s individual story. They tell us that the God of creation is intentional. Every life has purpose. Every person is known before they ever take their first breath.

When I first read Jeremiah 1, it wasn’t just an ancient calling. It felt like God was whispering through the text, reminding me that His plans are often set in motion long before we understand them. Jeremiah’s story begins with divine knowledge, hesitation, and ultimately surrender. Mine has followed a similar pattern. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that my calling didn’t start when I entered ministry, or even when I first believed. It started long before, in the quiet, unseen plans of a faithful God.

God’s Personal Calling

The idea that God’s hand was guiding me even before I knew Him became clear as my life began to shift. I once thought the only way to serve God was through full-time pastoral ministry. For several years, I poured my energy into preaching, counseling, and leading, believing that was the primary expression of my faith. Yet, in time, God led me into a completely different arena—real estate. At first, I questioned why. How could selling homes be connected to a spiritual calling?

It took years, but I began to see that God’s purposes are broader than our titles. Like Paul, who supported himself as a tentmaker while sharing the gospel, I began to understand that my career could also be ministry. Through real estate, I provide for my family and meet people from all walks of life. My work became a means of service, not separation from the gospel.

Just last week, I had the privilege of donating a significant amount to a dear friend who is preaching in Nepal and India, reaching thousands with the message of Christ. That moment reminded me that God’s provision in one season often fuels His mission in another. He knows how to use every skill, every job, every opportunity for His glory.

As you reflect on your own life, consider this: When was a moment you sensed God’s hand on you, even before you recognized it? Sometimes it’s only in hindsight that we realize God was arranging the path all along.

Our Natural Insecurity

Jeremiah’s immediate response to his calling was not confidence but fear. He said, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” Like Jeremiah, we often answer God’s invitation with our insecurities. I can relate to that.

When I was first saved in college, I was still trying to figure out what it meant to follow Christ. Only a few years later, I found myself in seminary surrounded by students who had grown up in church, steeped in theology and tradition. I felt like the outsider, the one catching up. Yet, even in that environment, God gave me an insatiable hunger to learn. I spent hours in prayer, study, and community, and over time, I grew into my calling. I discovered that God delights in using those who feel least qualified. It’s not about how long we’ve been walking with Him but how willing we are to take the next faithful step.

If you’ve ever felt unqualified, you’re not alone. Every servant of God begins with trembling hands. But insecurity is not a disqualification. Rather, it’s an invitation to depend on the One who called you.

God’s Reassurance and Presence

When Jeremiah confessed his fear, God didn’t scold him. Instead, He said, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” God’s answer to our fear is never self-confidence, it’s His presence.

I remember a time when I had to cling to that promise. I had felt the Lord prompting me to share the gospel publicly for the first time. It wasn’t a small gathering, but the Indianapolis 500, a massive crowd. My heart was pounding. My hands trembled as I gripped the microphone. But as soon as I began to speak about Jesus, a peace that could only come from the Holy Spirit settled over me. The noise of the crowd faded, and I sensed God’s power in a way I’ll never forget. He gave me the wisdom, protection, and boldness I needed to speak truth with love and conviction. That day I learned firsthand that courage doesn’t come from us; it comes from knowing that God goes before us.

God’s Word Shaping Our Hearts

Later in Jeremiah 1, the Lord touches Jeremiah’s mouth and says, “I have put my words in your mouth.” That image of divine empowerment shows that true ministry begins when God’s Word takes root inside us. It’s not about eloquence; it’s about alignment with His truth.

For me, that truth became deeply personal when I became a father. The moment I held my firstborn son, everything changed. Suddenly I saw another human being entirely dependent upon me—not just physically but spiritually. I realized that my role as a father wasn’t simply to provide or protect but to lead this little soul toward Christ. As I rocked my children to sleep, singing “You Are My Sunshine,” I saw their small faces light up, and it dawned on me: I am their dad. God entrusted these lives to me. That realization pushed me to anchor every decision in Scripture. Parenting revealed how utterly dependent I am on God’s guidance, and it deepened my understanding of His fatherly love.

The Mission and the Trials

Jeremiah’s calling was not easy. God told him, “Today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” That verse captures the dual nature of God’s work. He tears down what is false before building what is true. I’ve experienced this pattern many times.

For years, I served faithfully in pastoral ministry, but as my convictions began to change, I realized I could no longer remain in the same denominational environment. My beliefs were shifting in ways that placed me at odds with the structure I served. Eventually, I was offered severance and quietly stepped away. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. There was grief, uncertainty, and even a sense of loss. My wife, with wisdom beyond my own, reminded me, “If you lose your job over conviction, maybe it’s not worth keeping.” She was right. I couldn’t compromise the truth God had shown me just to stay comfortable. That moment was an uprooting, a painful but necessary clearing of ground so something new could grow.

Out of that transition came a deeper freedom. I began to see that my vocation and my ministry could merge rather than compete. That conviction eventually led me to build ConformtoJesus.com, not as a replacement for pastoral work, but as a continuation of it—a place where I could still teach, encourage, and share God’s Word in a way that reaches far beyond a church building.

If you think about your own journey, perhaps God has uprooted something in you as well—a job, a dream, a comfort zone, only to plant something stronger and more fruitful in its place. His pruning is never punishment; it’s preparation.

Living the Call Today

Jeremiah 1 closes with God’s assurance: “They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you.” God never promised Jeremiah an easy path, but He did promise His unwavering presence. That promise remains true for us today.

As believers, our callings are diverse. Some are pastors, others teachers, business owners, or parents. But every one of us is set apart for a reason. The workplace, the home, the marketplace—they are all mission fields where God displays His grace through us. My journey from pulpit to real estate office taught me that God’s call is not confined to one setting. The ministry continues wherever His people obey Him.

So, as you reflect on Jeremiah 1, ask yourself: When did you first realize God had a plan for you before you even knew Him? What insecurities have you had to overcome in order to follow that plan? And what might God be uprooting in your life right now so He can build something new?

The story of Jeremiah reminds us that every believer carries a divine appointment. We are known, chosen, and sent, not because of our strength, but because of His presence. When God says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you,” it is not just comfort; it is commissioning. Whether you find yourself in a church pulpit, a classroom, or the middle of a real-estate deal, His hand is on you, and His purpose is still unfolding.