10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” — Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is part of the letter the Prophet Jeremiah sent to the exiles in Babylon.
I find hope in these words. Sometimes, believers (okay, I’m talking about myself) pray that God will just snap His fingers and rescue me from something. Make it go away instantly. He doesn’t usually do that, though. In that truth is not where I find the hope. My hope is found in the truth that God has plans. His plans are not about destroying me in the process. In fact, the opposite is true. His plans will cause me to prosper and will give me a hope and a future.
It’s also important for me to remind myself that His plan is not about me. His plan is about Himself.
That’s what I’m grateful for today. He has a plan. His plan is much bigger than me. And His plan is not to destroy – regardless of difficulty and suffering that may come into my path.
Thanks Chris! I really needed to be reminded of this today.