The Best Laid Plans

“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.”—Jeremiah 29:11

There is no place where God’s voice is not heard. There is no height that He cannot reach, no depth to which He cannot go, and there is nothing too hard for Him. God knows all, sees all, and is everywhere. He is loving in His essence and nature, and is kind and compassionate to His creation. Why then is it that we have such a hard time entrusting ourselves to our good, benevolent, and loving God? Could it be because we don’t believe in Him? Or we find it easier to trust ourselves than we do Him?

Our passage for today was not spoken as a vain platitude, or cliché, but given during a time of great heartache, tragedy, and judgment, when the nation of Israel was being taken into exile because of their disobedience to the Lord. They had lived a life of rebellion against God and were receiving exactly what they deserved. Nevertheless, God gave them hope. He had not abandoned them. Indeed, He was planning something good for them in the future… a relationship with Himself.

What are you going through right now? Do you feel abandoned by God? What is the trial or tragedy that you are faced with right now? Know this, He will never leave you or forsake you. He is there for you, even though you may not see Him. He is putting into place the perfect plan for you. It is a good plan, where you have a future and a hope in Him. That does not mean there won’t be pain and sorrow, but it does mean that He will be there and you will sense His presence in a greater way than you ever have before. Our God is the God who shaped the mountains, and made the smallest atom. That is to say, if He cares about the details of creation, then the details of your life do not catch Him off guard. He is to be trusted with all of our plans, and He will show Himself to be loving and faithful. He has plans for you, dear one; we need only to not worry or fret at what the future holds, but entrust ourselves to the One who has time itself in His hand—our loving and saving God, Jesus Christ our Savior, and He will take care of it all. Amen.