SCRIPTURE: “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. 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.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
THOUGHT: Context can be really important. If a guy shows up in the ER holding his leg and screaming, you need to know if it’s a broken bone or snakebite. If a serial adulterer wants to marry you, the backstory better be illuminated. Those are bad analogies for the point I’m trying to make, but bear with me.
Sometimes I see this passage quoted as a promise without context. It’s on plaques, t-shirts, Bible covers, artwork. It’s often on the lips without the speaker being aware of the full story behind God’s promise. It sounds so wonderful, but is spoken over such tragedy. God’s people have failed miserably. They don’t follow his law, they don’t listen to his voice, their leaders are corrupt and leading them into all kinds of sin. In short, their culture is falling apart. It’s not a happy moment in history. They are attacked by the Babylonians and God’s word to them is that being taken as slaves to another country is literally the only way to stay alive, because everyone who doesn’t go is going to die…. Then, and only then, does he make this promise.
Why does it matter? Because knowing the whole heart of God matters. Understanding that he is for you, even when tragedy of your own making unfolds, matters. Learning to trust him, even in the darkness when there is no light (Is. 50:10) matters. So, yes, trust the promise that he has good plans for you, but remember the backstory is one of God getting those he loves to a place where they seek him with all their hearts.
PRAYER: Knowing your heart matters, oh God. Expand my own so that I can understand more of yours. Fill me with backstory so I don’t cherry-pick your promises.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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