God Does Have A Purpose and A Plan

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.”  
                                                                        Jeremiah 29:11  ESV                            

Many Christians have claimed Jeremiah 29:11 , as a life verse. But first we need to be sure that we clearly understand its proper application.  This verse, like Romans 8:28, teaches a beautiful truth that our Father works out His plans, with our best interest in mind.  However, we also need to understand the context of this verse (that I so love), and the fact that it was given to a specific group of people at a particular time in history to the people of Israel.  Yes, we understand at that time the promise was  given to the exiles living in Babylon and yes was a promise that the Lord would after 70 years bring them back from exile.  This is where the verse 29:11 stems from.  

Even so, I believe this passage of Scripture offers us encouragement and is  applicable today for believers.   Let’s take a  look at it:

“ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you.” (vv. 11-14 ESV)

Even in our hurt, or pain and our long suffering, know that God has a purpose and a plan for our life.  Plans that are tailor made, plans that are good, plans that give us a Future, a Plan and Hope.  A future that will Prosper us, build us up not to hurt or destroy us but a plan that has been established and fixed, a plan that involves sure restoration.   But… we must call on Him, seek Him,  When we seek God, we see His Perspective in our circumstances.  His perspective to establish us, to give us a Plan a Future and a Hope in the midst of our circumstances.  We can Trust God and as we trust Him we grow in Faith and dependency on Him and Him Alone.

The God who created you for Himself has never made any mistakes.  There have been no failures or flaws in his plan for you.  God’s Word tells us, “In all  these things (trials, struggles, emptiness, pain) we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”  (Romans 8:37).  For most people who read this verse the focus is on  “We are more than conquerors”.  But the most important word here is “In.”  Because we are often tempted to believe that God has promised to keep us from the trials, tests, and the hardships of life.  And when this doesn’t happen the way we believe it should, we become discouraged or defeated and unable to reason how the pain and hardship came about.   Seeing, truth from God’s perspective  allows us to fully understand that IN All things “Truth” we are more than Conquerors…. Why?  Because God truly does have a plan for our lives and Truth, to give us a future and a sure Hope… As it was with the children of Israel, that promise was true and was very much in the process all the while they were in captivity, so it is with you and I today.  God’s Promises are in the process for you today. 

 Be Encouraged Today,

Knowing that God will carry you through, as you trust Him through the process..