A Future and a Hope

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe.

Jeremiah 29:11:  : “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Let’s understand the context of this promise from our Lord.  Jeremiah was speaking to the nation of Israel, a nation hurting, troubled and confused.  God was not promising to deliverer them from the consequences of sin in their nation.  In fact, Jeremiah told the people they were going in to exile in Babylon for 70 years.  God was promising them a future and a hope in spite of what was going on around them.

Consider Jeremiah 29:4-7: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:  Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace”

Pray for the peace of this nation and for the peace of the world.  In that peace you will have peace.

Trust in the truth of the Lord Who has promised: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Happy New Year!