Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11
"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."

What a beautiful promise from the LORD! Many of us must have encountered this verse once or twice and some even have this as their life verse. Different stories for different people.

In 2012, God spoke to me through this verse while I was on the 13th day of a 30-day prayer covenant before making a major decision. This verse appeared in the most unusual places in one whole day - the last being the plastic covering of a printer toner. At that very moment, I understood God's love and care for me, His daughter, in the middle of trial.

Now, as I am studying the book of Jeremiah I have learned that the context of that verse was the exile in Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. In the midst of exile, God commanded His people to live at peace, stay productive and seek the welfare of the place where He has sent them into exile. Take note that Babylon would probably be the last place God's people want to be in. But at that time, it would be considered rebellion and disobedience against God if they would believe any prophet proclaiming anything other than remaining in exile in Babylon. Without proper context, we might ask, "Why would God want His people to stay in that dire situation?"

There are two truths that I have learned from this study. The 70-year exile in Babylon...
> was God's judgment for His people's disobedience to His long-standing call for them to repent and turn from their sins
> was a necessary season for them to fully understand and embrace who God is.

In a person's life, there will be times of great trial - trails so great that all you want and can do is raise the white flag of surrender. It is easy to listen to and accept God's promises in good times but hearing His promises while you are suffering - while you are under fire - may sound ridiculous. It is hard to see the promised welfare, future, and hope while your are being tested, more so while you are facing the consequences of your disobedience. But God's promise to His people is that He knows His plans for us and that alone should give us the confidence that whatever situation we are in right now, He is God and He knows what He is doing.

We can never act outside of His sovereignty. If you ever find yourself having fears of acting against God's will, take heart! His plan might look unfinished before our eyes but it is perfect and we ought to seek Him daily in order to stay on track. In the first place, we have been instructed to walk by faith and not by sight!








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