Giver of the Future
"'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.'" (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
For months now, our family has been looking forward to my older daughter's 21st birthday. We are celebrating the past—what God has done in her, for her, through her. But we are also anticipating the future.
Of course, it is promised to one. Of course God alone knows it and holds it. But His Word gives us a glimpse into His view of our future.
For months now, our family has been looking forward to my older daughter's 21st birthday. We are celebrating the past—what God has done in her, for her, through her. But we are also anticipating the future.
Of course, it is promised to one. Of course God alone knows it and holds it. But His Word gives us a glimpse into His view of our future.
Jeremiah 29:11 is my one of my firstborn's life verses, and for her birthday a few years ago, we commissioned a personalized watercolor print of it for her with the words from the verse presented as if they were a letter God had written just to her.
I believe if we listen to these ancient echoes, we can hear Him speaking the future to each one of us.
"My Dear Child,
"I know" (I have complete understanding and insight, because I am omniscient—there is no ambiguity or confusion about my knowledge)...
"The plans" (not the guesses or the wishes, but the certain intentions of my pleasing and perfect will)...
"I" (I, I who made you, I who formed you, I who call you by name, the I AM)...
"Have" (these are current, up-to-date, ongoing, perpetually present-tense plans)...
"For you" (specific to you, tailored to who you are, what you need, and the gifts I've given you—my plans are one-of-a-kind and made to order)...
"Plans to prosper you" (my plans aren't meant to just get you by, they are meant to make you thrive)...
"And not to harm you" (what I have in mind for you comes out of my heart of love, goodness, and protection for you)...
"Plans to give you" (this is a gift—it's not something you have to go scrounge up for yourself)...
"Hope" (of all the things my plans could give you, the first thing I want them to give you is hope, because that drives all other good things forward)...
"And a future" (there is more to your life than what you can see from the day you're standing on right now).
How do we respond to this, as in answering a letter? Maybe like this.
"God, I know You know the plans You have for me. I know they are to prosper me and not to harm me. I know they are plans to give me a hope and a future. While I'm waiting for You to do the next thing, help me to do the first thing: help me to know You."
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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!