Do you sometimes look at a verse and think, “That may be true for someone else, but I don’t see the truth of it in my life”?  Do people give you a “verse of encouragement” that only deepens your pain?  I know in my life there are times I’ve got to “dig deeper” to see what God is really saying to me.  Jeremiah 29:11 has been that kind of verse in my life.  It is familiar to many of us; it’s been put on plaques and cards and shared with friends through the years.  “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(NIV)

To some it’s a word of hope, to some it’s a platitude that doesn’t ease their pain, to others it is a deep truth God has confirmed in their life.  I want to look a little at the context and at the words; perhaps that will help us all find hope and strength from this word of God. It is His Word, and is sent with purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:16,17).  God drew me to this chapter while my husband was deployed last year.  It was not his first deployment, it was short notice, and in many ways it was a challenging time.

In my daily reading, I came across Jeremiah chapter 29.  Many Israelites were carried away to Babylon (modern day Iraq) and some “prophets” there were speaking words of hope to the captives, telling them that God would bring them back to Israel soon.  God gave a word to Jeremiah, who was still in Israel, for the captives.  The message started with bad news – they were not going home any time soon.  In fact, God let them know they would be there for 70 years.  This of course, was not what they wanted to hear, especially when there were others saying the time would be short.  I’m sure they also didn’t want to hear it from someone who was “home” in Israel while they were in captivity.  I know when I’m going through a deployment season, I can give less weight to words from those who are not going through it with me.  But sometimes God uses those who are not in the middle of it, as he did with Jeremiah.

Because they were going to be there a while, God wanted them to “settle in” there, and work and pray for the peace and prosperity of the city they were taken to (Jeremiah 29:7).    As I read that verse, I realized it was not just a history lesson, but God wanted me to pray for the peace of the city my husband was “carried” to.  I encourage us all, especially you who are deployed, or have family members deployed, to pray for the peace and prosperity of that place, not just for the safety of our Armed Forces.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that God loves the world, not just my little corner of it.

It is in this context that God’s plans for His people are confirmed.  I am constantly reminded that His ways are not my ways, His thoughts are not my thoughts, and He has a perspective that is bigger than all history (Isaiah 55:8-9).  His purposes will prevail (Proverbs 19:21, Psalm 57:2, Philippians 1:6) even when I can’t see it.  He has plans for a hope and a future, even if the present does not look hopeful, even if the future is not what we would plan for ourselves, He will work things out for our good (Romans 8:28). 

Even though I know those truths, there are times when I am hurting that I hear Jeremiah 29:11 and think “but I am hurting, how can it say that God’s plans are not to harm me, and I’m feeling harmed?”  That’s when I have to remember I am reading a translation, and sometimes my understanding of the English word is not a clear representation of the original text.  Sometimes looking at other translations helps, sometimes going to tools that help explain the original words helps.  Let’s look at the verse again in the Amplified Version:

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

As I searched other tools, I found this to be a clearer translation of the original.  God has thoughts of peace (Shalom) and not evil towards us.  It does not say we will not have hurt in this world, in fact, many other places in the Bible we are reminded that in this world we will have suffering (John 16:33, Romans 5:3, 1 Peter 5:8-10)  What this verse does say is that God’s thoughts and plans for us are not evil.  Even though we may be going through a painful trial, His ultimate plan is for our good, and that should give us hope even in the midst of circumstances that are difficult.  Be encouraged that this verse was written to people who were also going through a difficult time, after being told news that was probably very discouraging. 

But wait, verse 11 is still not the end of the story . . .

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

I praise God that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we don’t have to wait seventy years to be heard by Him, but He has promised He will be with us, and He will hear us. (Matthew 28:20b, 1 John 5:14)

Matthew 7:7-11:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

I pray you will be encouraged that God’s thoughts and plans for you are good plans --  

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

Rose