Devotion:
Read Jeremiah 29:11.
Jeremiah had preached without success to the people of Judah of the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom had fallen away from God and had been taken in exile to Assyria. The Southern Kingdom turned from God, and Jeremiah had tried with every ounce of energy to turn them back. The Babylonians swept through, and the best and brightest were taken in exile to Babylon. There seemed to be no hope for them, as it seemed likely they would be lost forever as a people, serving their masters in Babylon. But God was not finished with them. He gave Jeremiah the words to say to them in a letter, and this verse is part of that letter. It promises them that God has plans of good things for them, not harm, but hope and a future.
Scripture is living and breathing, teaching us and relevant to our lives today. In this verse, we can see that God is loving and forgiving. We can also see that God wants us to dream and look forward with hope toward the future. Fear, dread, and pessimism can absolutely paralyze us, taking away our initiative and creativity. God has a future planned for us. Let’s lift up our heads and live into that future with faith and hope!
Personal Worship Option:
As you pray today, give thanks that God wants us to look forward with hope. That does not mean our future will be free of challenges, struggles, and problems. But it does mean that God will be with us, leading us through. Seek God’s guidance and embrace hope through Jesus Christ.
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