God has a plan for you

"This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.””

Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT

Jeremiah the prophet, in this letter, gives the Israelites captive in Babylon, encouragement in a time of great question, spiritual tiredness, and despair. Israel went their own way, was rebellious, and chose to lose trust in God. This brought them into a literal and spiritual state of captivity. But despite this the Lord still answered them, their fears, and their worries. He told them of a time coming soon when they would be saved from their captivity. A time where He would lead them out of Babylon. You see the Israelites could only see the result of their sin, the result of their rebellion, and what they thought was a helpless cause. But the Lord said that He wasn’t just gonna leave them there.

He had plans for them that they couldn’t even fathom yet. Plans to restore them and take them out of bondage! In our own lives, whether we’re dealing with the consequences of sin, or just life in general and what it brings, God is in control. In the coming year, He does have plans for us, whether here on Earth or in Heaven above. His plans are far beyond what we can imagine. He will not leave us in our sin, struggles, fears, doubts, illnesses, or just the chaos of this world. He will deliver us. Again, it could be practically on Earth. Healing or a miracle that we’ve been waiting for. Or a great blessing or breakthrough we’ve been praying for. But no matter what, if we are His children, we have assurance that soon He is coming back. He is coming back to save us from this sinful, and fallen world. And if we have repented, put our trust in Him, and are seeking Him actively, daily, like He said, if we look for Him, we will find Him and we can rest in our eternal hope. Hope that at times, like the Israelites is hard to see when we feel like our bondage is never ending. But guys, the Lord has promised He will return! And that is worth enduring for!! So may we be ready and spread the good news while we wait!

Jesus’ words:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

John 16:33 NKJV

Written by Aaron Vala, Leader at Calvary Chapel Corona