READING: Jeremiah 27-29, Titus 1
Jeremiah’s letter to the people of God in Jeremiah 29 is a pivotal point in the book. Through that letter, the prophet reassured the people that God still had a plan for them – their exile was not the end of the story. Even as He brought judgment on them, He would allow them to find Him when they sought Him (Jer 29:12-14); the repentance of the people would lead to God’s gracious restoration. God alone—not the false prophets—knew the plan.
I’ve learned that Jeremiah 29:11 – “’For I know the plans I have for you’—this is the Lord’s declaration—’plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” – is a popular verse among believers. In fact, Pam and I have a small plaque of this verse that a friend gave us when we returned to seminary for doctoral studies. The verse reverberates with hope, and most of us need both that assurance and the reminder to wait and pray until that day.
What most grabs my heart today, though, is the first part of the verse: “For I know the plans I have for you.” It’s both amazing and comforting to me that God has never been caught off guard by where my life goes, nor will He ever be surprised in the future. The plans are indeed His, and He knows them fully. Pam and I rest in His loving hands, even if His plan is sometimes complicated and stretching.
PRAYER: “Thank You, Lord, for the plans You have for us.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Jeremiah 30-31, Titus 2-3