As Strong as Iron 坚强如铁
Dexu Xia
Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall. Jeremiah 1:18
Ironclad beetles are known for their tough exterior which protects them from predators. One special variety, however, has extraordinary strength under pressure. The insect’s hard, outer shell stretches, rather than cracks, where it joins together. Its flat back and low profile also help it to resist fractures. Scientific tests show that it can survive a compression force of nearly forty thousand times its body weight.
Just as God made this bug extra tough, He gave resilience to Jeremiah as well. The prophet would face intense pressure when he delivered unwelcome messages to Israel, so God promised to make him “an iron pillar and a bronze wall” (Jeremiah 1:18). The prophet wouldn’t be flattened, dismantled, or overwhelmed. His words would stand strong because of God’s presence and rescuing power.
Throughout his life, Jeremiah was falsely accused, arrested, tried, beaten, imprisoned, and tossed into a well—yet he survived. Jeremiah also persisted despite the weight of inner struggles. Doubt and grief plagued him. Constant rejection and the dread of a Babylonian invasion added to his mental stress.
God continually helped Jeremiah so that his spirit and testimony weren’t shattered. When we feel like giving up on the mission He’s given us, or backing away from living faith-filled lives, we can remember that Jeremiah’s God is our God. He can make us as strong as iron because His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Which circumstances are threatening to crush you? How do the examples of Bible characters inspire you to exhibit faith in God?
Dear God, please strengthen me to meet the challenges I face today
我今日使你成为坚城、铁柱、铜墙。—耶利米书1章18节
铁甲虫以其坚硬的外壳而闻名，这外壳能保护它免受侵害，其中一个特殊品种的铁甲虫在承受压力时，还会展现非凡的力量。这种甲虫的坚硬外壳在重压下不会裂开，而是伸展开来。它扁平的背部和低矮的外形，也使它不容易被压扁。科学测试证明，它可以承受其体重四万倍的重压。
正如上帝创造这特别坚硬的甲虫一样，祂也赋予先知耶利米坚强的韧性。当耶利米传达的信息引起以色列人的反感时，他面临巨大的压力，因此上帝应许让他成为“铁柱、铜墙”（耶利米书1章18节）。耶利米不会被压扁、踩碎或压垮。因着上帝的同在和拯救的大能，他所传达的信息仍然强而有力。
耶利米一生虽遭受诬告，被逮捕、审判、殴打、监禁并扔进井里，但他依然活了下来。尽管内心有种种难处重压着他，但他仍坚忍不拔。怀疑和悲伤困扰着他；不断被人拒绝，以及惧怕巴比伦入侵，令他的精神压力倍增。
然而，上帝不断地帮助耶利米，使他的心志、所做的见证不致被压垮。当我们想放弃上帝所赋予的使命，或放弃凭信心生活时，让我们谨记，耶利米的上帝就是我们的上帝。祂能使我们坚强如铁，因为祂的能力在我们的软弱上显得完全（哥林多后书12章9节）。
哪些情况可能会将你压垮？当你面临压力时，
圣经人物的例子如何激励你去信靠上帝？
亲爱的上帝，求祢赐我力量去迎接今天面临的挑战。
愿祢的灵引导我的言行，使我能靠着祢而屹立不摇。