“For I know the
thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of
evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and
pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you
search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJ)
thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of
evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and
pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you
search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJ)
Sometimes I find
myself in unpleasant situations. Laying blame for them is immaterial. The
anguish is the same. The desire for deliverance is the same. And the longer
unpleasant situations linger, the more depressed I become. “Will this
situation never end?!”
myself in unpleasant situations. Laying blame for them is immaterial. The
anguish is the same. The desire for deliverance is the same. And the longer
unpleasant situations linger, the more depressed I become. “Will this
situation never end?!”
The people of God
found themselves in captivity to the Babylonians. And their captivity had
continued for many years, but it had a limit. They were depressed. Evidently
they thought they would never be free again. Babylon was the end of the line,
they thought.
found themselves in captivity to the Babylonians. And their captivity had
continued for many years, but it had a limit. They were depressed. Evidently
they thought they would never be free again. Babylon was the end of the line,
they thought.
Then God spoke
through Jeremiah with an encouraging message. “You may believe I think
evil toward you, but I don’t. I think about the future I have for you. I think
about the peace I want for you. I think about the hope I provide to you.”
through Jeremiah with an encouraging message. “You may believe I think
evil toward you, but I don’t. I think about the future I have for you. I think
about the peace I want for you. I think about the hope I provide to you.”
In the midst of
anguished situations, I remember this passage and it quiets my spirit. I
remember that God thinks different than I do. He thinks in terms of his plans
and purpose while I selfishly think in terms of my comforts and desires. He
thinks in terms of all things cooperating to bless me. I think in terms of
personal rose gardens without thorns or trouble or pain.
anguished situations, I remember this passage and it quiets my spirit. I
remember that God thinks different than I do. He thinks in terms of his plans
and purpose while I selfishly think in terms of my comforts and desires. He
thinks in terms of all things cooperating to bless me. I think in terms of
personal rose gardens without thorns or trouble or pain.
As my spirit settles
in peace and hope, I remember that the future – my future – is in God’s hands.
Rehearsing his words sends me to my knees. “Call upon me. Pray to me. I
will listen. Seek me. Search for me with all your heart. Find me.”
in peace and hope, I remember that the future – my future – is in God’s hands.
Rehearsing his words sends me to my knees. “Call upon me. Pray to me. I
will listen. Seek me. Search for me with all your heart. Find me.”
Somehow, as I obey
his instructions, my anguish disappears. Hope arises. Peace floods in and the
situation becomes bearable until I am finally delivered from it. My future is
in God!
his instructions, my anguish disappears. Hope arises. Peace floods in and the
situation becomes bearable until I am finally delivered from it. My future is
in God!
Dear Father, thank
you for thinking of me. Empower my future with peace and hope. I pray this in
the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for thinking of me. Empower my future with peace and hope. I pray this in
the name of Jesus. AMEN
Look to the future,