Jeremiah 12:5
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Jeremiah 12:5
Verse 12:5 uses a proverb-like contrast: if you can run with footmen (smaller challenges) and are wearied, how can you contend with horses (great trials) in unsteady territory. It’s a warning about escalating pressure and the need for resilience. Jeremiah’s audience experiences an increased sense of danger and upheaval; the image encourages steady faithfulness even when normal circumstances fail.
The passage highlights spiritual stamina under pressure and the necessity of preparation for bigger battles. It reflects a principle that readiness and endurance grow through smaller trials. It also shows a God who measures faithfulness across seasons and sizes of trouble, not merely when grand victories loom.
Apply as a personal growth principle: build spiritual stamina in everyday, ordinary settings—consistent prayer, scripture, and integrity in small decisions—so you’re prepared when larger storms come (career pressures, family crises, or societal upheaval). If you’re overwhelmed, seek support: mentors, community, devotionals that fuel endurance. View challenges as training rather than punishment.
Cross-References: 1 Corinthians 10:12, Hebrews 12:1-3, Luke 12:11-12