A Hope and a Future

I love God's promise in Jeremiah 29:11- "'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.'" Awesome! Countless times over the years I have quoted this verse- encouraging others and myself...but I only quoted verse 11, not really taking a look at the verses before or after in this Old Testament chapter.
Recently, when I was struggling to understand God's plan in everything, I was brought again to this verse. I was reminded that God has a future and a hope for me. But, at the time, it sure didn't feel or look like a glorious future or a happy hope. I KNOW God's Word is true, and I KNOW God is faithful to keep His promises...so I am confident in this declaration from the Lord...but, how do I make sense of it all when it doesn't make sense?
Well, let's take a look at this passage. Jeremiah 29 is a letter written to the Jewish exiles...those that were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon (vs. 4). Obviously, not a happy time. And, it wasn't a short stay- it was 70 years! (vs. 10). At the time, if you asked those individuals in exile if they were living with great hope in a promising future, they probably would have laughed at you. But then, in the midst of their trouble, the Lord rescues them...He gives them the beautiful promise that we claim over and over again. And He continues on after verse 11, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." (vs. 12-14a). These Jewish exiles had a future and hope- in the midst of the unthinkable! We, too, have a future and a hope in the midst of our most difficult circumstances. The Lord didn't promise a smooth road without any bumps...(even HE didn't get a smooth road!) But, He did promise us His sufficient grace and a hope and future in HIM. Hold onto Him.

"His ways are not our ways. Our ways would always be comfortable. Convenient... If you've walked with God very long, I have little doubt that He has used what you perceived as very negative means to achieve a positive result." -Beth Moore

5 little & life changing words

So, maybe you have a hard time memorizing...like me. It takes me a long time to memorize words of songs, verses, and even recipes. When singing a solo, that is what I'm most nervous about...getting all of the words right. There have been many times where my mind blanks out in the middle of a song, and I begin to start writing my own lyrics on the spot...eek...not ideal and a little on the stressful side. Anyhoo, all that to say, I struggle with memorizing. But, today, I memorized a powerful verse in less than a minute...and I think you can, too.
This morning, as I was reading in Mark 5, I came across 5 words that Jesus spoke to Jairus, the synagogue ruler. After immediately hearing that his 12 year old daughter had just died, Jesus said something to him that probably stirred a million different thoughts and emotions into his mind and heart. In the midst of chaos, mourning, and heart wrenching pain, Jesus spoke these 5 little words: "Don't be afraid; just believe." And, within 5 verses, this little girl rose from the dead because of Jesus.
"Don't be afraid; just believe." Seriously, that could be my life verse. That is the essence of trusting... let go of the fear- and believe in God. He is God of miracles (Ps. 77:14)!
5 little & life changing words...yep- got it memorized, do you? Now, here's the next question for us...are we living it?