“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD…” Jeremiah 29:11

Plans

This is a life verse for many people, including myself.

Most people stop right there though and don’t consider the next verses, or the prior ones for that matter. The Lord is talking about bringing Israel out of exile if they will turn to Him, after 70 years in Babylon.

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.”

“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, declares the LORD, and will bring you back from captivity” (Jeremiah 29:12-14a).

Unfortunately, for most of us the seeking and finding, and thus the hope and the future, come in the midst of exile and captivity. When life is going good, we tend to not seek Him as much, or with the singularity of heart that we do in the midst of the battle or exile.

70 years in Babylon–ouch! I haven’t spent 70 years in exile, but I have spent many decades, sadly enough, captive to lies, fears and my fleshly desires.

But the promise is every bit as much for us today as it was for the Israelites thousands of years ago.

The Lord still says to seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him, and He will set you free. He will give you a hope and a future. He does–I’m living proof of that.

His eyes are never off of us, including in the midst of whatever exile or captivity we find ourselves in—depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear, drug or alcohol addiction, abusive relationships, unemployment, a seemingly dead-end job, or simply in bad choices we make.

So, wherever you’re at, whatever is holding you captive, know that He cares. He is there whether it feels like it or not. He longs to set you free. Won’t you turn to Him?

Won’t you yield to Him? I promise you–His plans for your life are so much better than yours ever could be.

Dear Lord, thank You that there is the fulfillment of a gracious promise (Jeremiah 29:10) in the plans You have for us– a hope, a future, and a relationship with You. Help us to trust that You are more than capable, and oh so willing, to set us free if we will earnestly seek You. Amen.