“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

This year we have been studying the Israel’s Kings and Prophets through Community Bible Study (CBS). This has been a challenging study for us. I have learned a lot about the Jewish History and a lot about God’s character. The Jews, starting almost since the beginning of their existence, yo-yo-ed back and forth in their allegiance to  God. For the most part, all the Kings were evil except for a handful that managed to “do what was right in the eyes of the Lord”. Although God had pledged his allegiance to them back when Moses was around, they (the Israelites) repeatedly violated their covenant with God. God is a loving God, in fact, Psalm 103:8 says “He is slow to anger, abounding in love” but there came a time that God said enough, and just as we as parents discipline the children we love, God had to discipline the Israelites by handing them over to the Babylonians. Even right before their captivity God gives them chances, it says in  2 Chronicles 36:16 that “they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets”.

At the end, when they are exiled to Babylon, Jeremiah, still in Jerusalem writes them a letter, in this letter is where he writes that opening verse. He is saying to them I know you are discouraged but have faith in God. Can you imagine how those exiles felt? Can you imagine the frustration and hopelessness? Yet here is God telling them, “I have a plan”. After  studying their story and reading all the warnings and prophecies, all the times Israel ignores God, and all the times they choose other gods, I couldn’t believe God was still saying to them “I have a plan and its a good plan”. For 70 years, they serve the Babylonians and then the Persians come and take over. Cyrus, the King of Persia, then allows them to return to Israel to rebuild the temple and settle down.

This reading came at a good time for me. I have doubts about a lot of things; homeschooling, finances, family issues, health issues, etc and etc. I feel like I am doing the right thing. I am listening to his voice. Yet, I am worried about the future. Yet if God to say to the Israelites  “I have a plan” I believe with all my heart, he tells me “I have a plan”.

God has a plan.

He always has a plan.

He has a plan for me.

He has a plan for you.

Trust in his plan.

Today, I started reading Believing God by Beth Moore and this is what she says,

“God knows the plans He has for us, Dear One, but He will not force them on us. Don’t miss the word hope. Nothing about your calling or mine is compulsory. God is going to accomplish His agenda regarding heaven and earth no matter what you and I do, but we get to decide whether we’re going to be part of His process in our generation. Our callings remain a hope until we allow the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened and chose to accept them.

Ligia