God's Plans for You

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

The prophet Jeremiah is often a bringer of hope. He lived in a difficult time, but in his book of the Old Testament, reflects much on the vocation he received from God and correspondingly, of his relationship with God. It is marvelous to consider that you can have a personal relationship with God, especially through the second person of the Trinity: Jesus Christ our Lord.

A future of hope

Sometimes it is good to begin with the end. God is bringing us to a future of hope. This is important to keep in mind, because it reveals the true intentions of God our Father. He wants us to achieve salvation. He wants to save us. He wants us to live with Him, happy forever in Heaven. Do you live with hope for the future? Sometimes, it seems that the media outlets are trying to take all hope from our hearts. We might be tempted to turn off the TV and all sources of news. Maybe if we ignore the news, it will harm us no longer. But the "ostrich strategy" of sticking our heads in the sand can hardly be the correct solution.

Raise your head high

I am sure that Christ wants us to know what is happening in the world. Although some details may be disturbing and worrisome, we can always be proud and happy that God is calling us constantly to Himself. We are descendants of Adam and Eve, the first parents of humanity who received the mission of beginning the human race and leading it back to God. Original sin got in the way. C.S. Lewis reflected on what it means to be human, a son or daughter of Adam and Eve in his Narnia novel of Prince Caspian. Being descended from our first parents "is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth." So, let us raise our heads high and look to serve God in all that we do.

God knows you

What can be more consoling than this? Sure, often life is hard. But is incredibly comforting to know that God is watching over us in every moment and wants what is truly best for us. Jeremiah was beaten and put in the stocks. He was sentenced to death. He was left to die in the mud and called a liar among other things. He had to go through some rough spots in life, but time and wisdom let him know that God was always watching out for him. This is why this suffering servant of God was able to say that God was always giving him hope. Do you thank God for the hope he has placed in your heart?