by Charlotte

Jeremiah 29:11  “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.”

My mother is a praying woman. 

She has prayed a lot of prayers for me (Thanks Mom!).  This verse is woven into the fabric of my life by her.  The first time I remember her giving it to me was when I was in high school and about to board a plane to the East Coast to look at a college.  She told me that she had been praying for me and this was the verse God had given her about me.  She also gave it to me when I loaded up my car and headed to Southern California.  And then again when I found out my third child probably had Down’s Syndrome. 

She might have given it to me at other times, but these three occasions I remember for sure.

While in college, I heard a respected speaker talk on the promises of God.  This speaker brought up the point that not all the verses in the Bible are promises to all people, throughout time.  She pointed out Proverbs 22:6 (Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.) and Jeremiah 29:11.  She said that Proverbs 22 is a general truth, not a promise  and Jeremiah 29 is only for the Israelites during the time of Jeremiah.  I was a little taken back (and slightly miffed) by her comments.  Something didn’t set right with me with what she was saying, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I returned home and told my mom what the speaker had said.  My mother said (maybe a little indignantly), “That may be, but God gave me that verse while praying for you.  It is a promise to me about you.”  I smiled.  The world was right again, because if God told Mom, then it must be so.

I have grown in my own faith since college and realize that part of what the speaker was saying was true.  Proverbs 22, for example, isn’t a promise to all people throughout the ages.  God would not force Himself on a person.  So if our children – even though they are taught the ways of God – don’t want anything to do with Him, He won’t force them to love Him.  However, I have seldom seen (in my short little life) anyone who has even one parent who truly loves God (and is not just religious) turn completely away from God forever.

On the other hand, Jeremiah 29, although it was spoken to specific people at a specific time, the rest of the Bible supports that it could be a promise to all God’s people throughout the ages.  “For I know - of course He does, He knows everything - the plans I have- God’s plans, not the reader’s – for you,” – the reader declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,” - God calls Himself our Father; what kind of crummy father would not want good for his child (See Matthew 7:7-11) - plans to give you hope and a future.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 says “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.  God gives us hope and a future.  The future might not be here on the “good ol’ earth”, but if we are God’s children then we have hope and a beautiful future.

This verse may have been given to the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time, but it has also proved true in my own life every day.

Jeremiah 29:11  “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.”