I have a confession.
The book of Jeremiah isn’t one of my favorites.
I’m not big on doom and gloom, and for a very long time, my impression of that particular biblical book was an unending diatribe from heaven against God’s lost children. And of course, Jeremiah got stuck (at least in my head) with the tag of prophet of doom.
On an interesting note, amidst the symphony of warnings comes a verse; one which turns out to be one of the most hopeful verses, not just in the book of Jeremiah, but in the entire bible.
That’s so like God isn’t it? Mining diamonds in a field of coal.
I’m sure you know the verse, “for I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”[1]
What’s interesting is that by the time that verse is quoted, Israel is already in captivity.
This hope filled verse is a message from God, written by Jeremiah and sent with great pain to Babylon, telling the people to settle and prosper. It also comes after instructions to Israel to increase in spite of their circumstances
When you take the time to read it, the 29th chapter is the sweet rain of God reassurance to his hurting people.
The all seeing Father encourages his children with cheer leading words.
Do your best with the hurts you have. Progress as much as you can.
You know what an alternative message could have been? God could easily have told his people to put on mourning clothes and pour ashes on their head’s, but He didn’t.
God speaks to His people through Jeremiah, reminding them that even in the midst of trouble, they are to have hope for deliverance.
I wish life was picnic after picnic. I wish pain wasn’t real and misery was only in our imagination.
The reality is really different. Pain dogs our steps much more than we want, and hurt often tarries for decades.
Sometimes there are no answers for people who have to deal with more than their share of heartache even when they are good people and have a heart for God.
In more ways than one, Jeremiah’s letter is to those caught in prolonged distress with no obvious way out.
God wants you to do the best with what you have even if it’s not much. He wants you to increase not decrease, and to do your best even when it’s messy. He ultimately has a plan that’s specific to you. A plan that has taken your personal pit into account, and just so you think it’s a bad plan, it’s not.
God takes the time to say that His plans are for your good.
God’s plans are to prosper you. The devil may have a plan to stop you, to hurt you and to destroy you. God’s plan is to give you hope and a good future and when you weigh both sides, remember who has more power.
[1] Jer 29v11