Tuesday, October 10, 2023

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.

Jeremiah 29:11

This is a very familiar verse in the Word of God. Most of us can quote it on any given day, but we may not interpret it correctly. One of the things I learned in seminary is that “context is king.” We cannot just lift one verse of scripture and apply it where we think it fits. In order to properly appropriate the Word for our lives today, we must understand the verse in its original context.

How many of us have been in a hopeless situation? How many of us know someone who was facing a major challenge? During those times, we may quote this Scripture to encourage ourselves and others so that we are reminded that this suffering is not the will of God. We declare, “God has a plan for my (your) life, for Jeremiah 28:11 says…”

Let’s look at this verse crouched in Jeremiah 29. What was happening?

This passage of scripture was written when the Israelites were in exile in Babylon because of their disobedience to God. God tells them, through Jeremiah’s letter, that they will be there for a while. They were there 70 long years. He tells them to settle into this plight: get married, have babies, pray for their captors. He even tells them that if anyone comes to tell them they are about to return to their land, he is a false prophet.

God is not telling them their suffering is over. He is saying that this is where you are right now, but I have a plan for you. Many of the people who heard this letter died in this situation, but, as a people, God had not forgotten them. He had a plan.

This passage of scripture reminds us not to sow our hope in things that may never materialize. Our God is our hope. He is our peace. He never leaves or forsakes us. We belong to him, and despite what we go through, he is there to take us through it.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your love for me and your people. Despite what I experience on this side of eternity, I know you have a hope for me. Even when things become difficult, I learn more about you in the process. Teach me how to hold on, even when it is difficult, knowing that you have a plan that is good for me and that brings glory to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.