Hope for the Future

“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 on 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

          The prophet Jeremiah was called by God to speak His judgment upon the people of Israel for their idolatry. They were to be exiled and cut off from God’s blessing for a time. In the seventy years that they are banished from their land they were not to lose hope. Even though they are under God’s judgment He provides a glimpse at what is in store for them. He declares that His plans are to prosper them and give them hope for the future. 

          God may punish us all from time to time for our disobedience, but we bring it on ourselves. He withholds His blessing to us even today, but only for a short time and does this out of His everlasting love for us. God will not let us languish in sin forever, for He knows our hearts and has great things in store for us. As we embark on the adventure that is this New Year, we are to find hope in the fact that God already resides in all our tomorrows. He stands at the end of whatever trial we may find ourselves in and waits patiently for us to surrender to His will. God’s promise to us, just as it was to His chosen people Israel, is that if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. He is not hiding from us but rather is in the open. We simply need to use spiritual eyes to see Him. The one way to ensure that our life is blessed is to call upon the Lord and serve Him. Our needs shall be met, and our desires shall gravitate towards that which God knows is good for us. 

          When God proclaims that His plans are to prosper us, we should not automatically assume that it is monetary in nature. There are much more important ways in God’s economy that we may prosper. Spiritual prosperity can carry you a whole lot further than money even would. It may not seem like it at the moment, but when we place our complete faith and trust in our God, He will make a way for us even when there appears to be no way. 

          My prayer for you all is that you may have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and that you may prosper even as your soul prospers. ^{(3 John 1:2)} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries