"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, NIV
I met a sweet lady in VA at the church my in-laws attend. She was quite distraught and wanted prayer - but what she really needed in her soul was comfort, reassurances and answers. She had battled substance abuse and was now sober, but her husband and children were still victims of the bondage of substance abuse. She grieved for her family; felt the helplessness of a wife and mother who wanted to fix things for her husband and children. She needed help.
How often do we all feel this helplessness with our own troubles at times? We are at our wits' end. We don't know where else to turn. We have exhausted all our resources and don't know where to go next. The future seems bleak without a clear path.
It felt the same way for the Israelites many years ago. They had been captured, taken from their homeland in Jerusalem and carried away in exile to Egypt. Everything they knew and owned was destroyed - all seemed hopeless. But God, through his prophet Jeremiah, sent them a letter and in it he (God) told them that He "had plans for them - plans to prosper them and not to harm them. Plans to give them hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Even though it had seemed all was lost - when things were at their bleakest point - God still had wonderful things planned for them. They just had to wait a little while for the right time - God's time.
Guess what? He has plans for us today, too! The God that had encouragement and future plans for his remnant (the remaining Israelites) in Egypt has plans to give us a hope and future today. God is so much bigger than our problems and has so much in store for us!
"Sure," you may be thinking. "It's easy for you to say - you don't know what I'm going through." You're right, I don't, but God does. And he promises he can get you through whatever valley you are in. How can you get this hope? Let's keep reading in Jeremiah what God had to say to the captured Israelites - "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29: 12-13)
Do you want the hope God provides? Do you want to know His plans for you - the future He wants for you? Seek Him with all your heart. Pray to Him. Ask Him for guidance. Believe that He loves you and believe His promises. Believe God! He is faithful.
I wish for you the hope that God brings - not only in this Christmas season, but throughout the coming year!
May God bless you and keep you,
Robin
If you would like to see (and/or purchase) the "card of the week" that corresponds with this blog - please see this link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88280888/inspirational-blank-card-jeremiah-2911
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