Tag Archives: Jeremiah 29:11

God’s plans … Or yours?

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One of the most common verses referenced on graduation cards is Jeremiah 29:11 – “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…” What a great verse of hope, that the creator of the universe has good plans for us . . . if only we will pursue them.

 

Of course, we have many plans of our own. We have plans that distract us from God’s presence and keep us from even thinking about Him most the day. We have plans that go against God’s will that we justify as not being “too bad.” We make happiness our life goal instead of the real joy found in enjoying God more than anything else. We have plans we think serve Him even though they aren’t necessarily His best plans for us.

 

Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew probably had plans to make a good living as fishermen. Then along comes Jesus who says, “Come, follow me and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed him.” James and John were also out fishing, in a boat with their father. Jesus called them and they immediately left their boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)  There was no discussion. They didn’t say, “Wait until I raise enough money to go on your journey.” They didn’t ask, “Will I be able to live at the same level of comfort that I currently enjoy?” They didn’t even ask Jesus where they were going. All they knew was that their encounter with Jesus compelled them to change their plans and follow him.

 

Following Jesus requires change. He may require us to change priorities. Instead of being obsessed with the news, sports, finance, or any other list of things, Jesus calls us to adjust our day to focus on him. He may require us to change our lifestyle. The rich young ruler found it unacceptable to give up his riches in order to follow Jesus. It wasn’t the riches that were the problem but his obsession with wealth and comfort that stood in the way of following Jesus.

 

Following Jesus requires us to adjust our plans to his, not trying to fit his plans into ours. It may be as ‘simple’ as switching our movie and TV viewing habits, the words we use when we’re angry, or even the things we let frustrate us.

 

Following Jesus might cause us to rethink our giving. Instead of thinking a 10% tithe is our goal, maybe he would have us think of it as a beginning. After all, if our life goal is to follow Jesus, shouldn’t we use all our resources for that purpose?

 

Following Jesus might require leaving our comfort zone. James and John left their home, their family, their livelihood, and life ambitions and goals. Why? Because God had a better plan for them. His plans always reflect His character of love, mercy, justice, goodness. His plans always reflect his purpose to draw us and others closer to him and to each other. In fact Jesus summed these up as the ‘greatest commandments’ – to love God fully and to love others as ourselves. Isn’t everything else really just following our own plans?

 

There’s nothing wrong with making a living and enjoying the life God gave us. But the question is, are we following our own plans and asking God to adjust to them or are we adjusting our lives so we can follow his good plans for us?

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

Understanding “For I know the plans I have for you”

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‘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 a hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11

 

The bible is about you. But it’s not all about you.

 

Be assured, the Word of God IS applicable to your life. But it really about God, the history – His Story – of love and redemption, the story of who God is and how He reveals Himself to us and through us. It is indeed the unfolding of His great plan to save the world for His glory.

 

When we inscribe this ‘famous’ verse from the book of Jeremiah onto every greeting card, let’s think about what it means.

 

One interpretation could say, whatever problem you are facing, don’t worry. Got cancer? No worries; God will heal you. Are finances in distress? No problem; God will make it better. Going through a difficult or uncertain chapter of your life? He will ‘prosper’ you with a happy ending. The problem with this interpretation is that Jeremiah 29:11 had nothing to do with our temporary trials.

 

Jeremiah wrote to Jerusalem exiles who had lost everything! They were condemned to live in a foreign land where they would be exiled for 70 years. Think of it. A 70 year exile meant many of them would die in their plight. For some, their children would die there too. God’s promise of “a hope and a future” was a stamp of assurance that His will would prevail and future generations would prosper from it. It wasn’t a guarantee of the fulfillment of everyone’s personal dreams and ambitions.

 

Does this mean that God is unaware of or ambivalent to our woes? Absolutely not. God does have a plan for you and it is a good plan for your hope and future. It might not pan out exactly how you would like. Your pain might continue. Your disease might not be healed. Your relationships might not be restored. Your financial house might fall.

 

But. . .

 

He is the one who created you, who knows your heart better than you know yourself. He who gave His only Son to rescue us while we were so undeserving of such a gift. God is the author of compassions that are new every morning. It is He who offers us amazing grace and allows His Holy Spirit to live in those who believe in His Son. He is the great promise keeper and truth teller, the one who never abandons us, who strengthens and equips us. It is He who makes you more than a conqueror and who has written your name forever in the Lamb’s Book of Life if you believe in Jesus. Do you think that He who did not spare His own Son would not also give you all things?

 

God may answer your prayers exactly as you ask. But even if His answer extends beyond your life, He has a plan that give you great hope and a future…a great plan!

 

 

What Defines Your Life?

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It was a good birthday: time for celebration with my amazing wife and time for reflection. A friend brought me a classic devotional, “Streams in the Desert.” This thought spoke directly to my heart:

“Perhaps your desire to receive what you want is stronger than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled.”

For the past 77 days, every day, the realities of cancer have hijacked my life more than I have wanted. Yes, faith has guided us and sustained us daily. But medical appointments, blood counts, research, transplant plans, chemo, and the tiredness that keeps me from accomplishing simple chores… all these details that need attending to have taken residence in my life. Cancer has usurped our goals and replaced them with a goal of “getting through this” and being a two year “survivor.”

The sense of isolation and inability to work has weighed as heavily on me as the cancer itself. I thrive on interaction. I’ve committed my life work and future ministry to this. It just doesn’t ‘make sense’ to go through another ‘desert’ at this point in my life. I have been through others and thought I’d learned what I needed from those experiences. And then it hit me:

Cancer limits me but it doesn’t have to define my life.

My desire to get through this is strong. But my desire for God’s will to be fulfilled in the midst of this and through this is stronger. I don’t want to miss what He wants to reveal.

I wonder, what is defining your life?

Is it the desire to be accepted by others? Or maybe the need to always have your way. Is it the desire to ‘get ahead’ in life? The pursuit of health and fitness or some new fad? Or maybe a sense of belonging to a worthwhile cause, to do ‘enough’ good things. Is it an uncomfortable position you find yourself in? Or maybe hopelessness has filled you with despair? Or Facebook?

God has a marvelous plan for you. May your life be continually shaped and defined by His love and the hope He offers you.

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