11 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.—Jeremiah 29:11
I don’t know who might need to hear this but it was a good reminder for my own heart this morning. I have never given much thought to Jeremiah 29:11…probably because it has been so commercialized by the greeting card companies. As I was reading it the other night, however, I was able to see why it is so beloved. What a wonderful picture of the heart of love that God has for us His children.
There are times for each of us, if we live long enough, that nothing seems to go right. Life is hard from the moment we arise in the morning to the moment we sleep again at night.
This verse is perhaps God’s answer to the questions that He knew would inevitably arise when things in our lives are not as we think they should be. Does God care? Does He still love us? Can He even do anything about our problems?
When the storms of life come, I have decided that Jeremiah 29:11 in conjunction with Romans 8:28 are gonna be my ark…the promises that I will hold on to as doubts assail and the flood waters of this life rise and roil all about me.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.—Romans 8:28
God is not hurting me…He has a good plan for my life. He is my hope and He is my peace. I can trust that He is deeply concerned about me. His word tells me that His thoughts toward me are precious, the sum of them vast and if I could count them they would outnumber the sand! I can know that because I belong to Him, He orchestrates all in my life for my good and His glory. He desires my peace. His unfailing love surrounds me and He longs to bless me.
Beloved…Don’t let your troubles cause you to doubt His grace; instead, believe that He loves you as much in seasons of sadness as in times of joy…because He does. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."—Revelation 21:3-5
8 He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the LORD has spoken.
9 And it will be said in that day:
"Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the LORD;
We have waited for Him;
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."—Isaiah 25:8-9
7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD
And the praises of the LORD,
According to all that the LORD has bestowed on us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies,
According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.
8 For He said, "Surely they are My people,
Children who will not lie."
So He became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction He was afflicted,
And the Angel of His Presence saved them;
In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;
And He bore them and carried them
All the days of old.—Isaiah 63:7-9
