Have you ever wondered if God has a plan and a purpose for your life? I know I have. The Word of God tells us, in Jeremiah 29:11, that he does indeed have a plan for our lives! That is exciting news! Don't ya think? I am going to include vs 11-14 below for a reason that I'll get to in just a minute.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
I think it is interesting that most people who quote that passage in Jeremiah 29 ONLY quote verse 11. Yes, that verse shows us that God has a plan for our lives, however, what the rest of the passage says is that the plan God has for you will not be revealed UNLESS you are seeking after Him wholeheartedly. God and His plan for you are not difficult to find if you are seeking after Him with all you've got. If you seek Him, you WILL find Him.
God is soverign, which means He is in control of every tiny aspect of your life. So, in the end, His plan and purpose for you will prevail. The passages below show this to be the truth.
"The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." (Psalm 138:8)
"But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:11)
"You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." (Proverbs 19:21)
So, If God is ultimately in control of ever tiny, minute detail of our lives, then why do we worry so much about the things that happen in our lives? Perhaps, it is because we want the control over our lives and we do not trust God to look out for our best interest. This is, afterall, the reason I have struggled with all the things that have happened in my life. As I look to God and I look to His Word for direction, I am discovering more and more about myself as I learn more about God. I believe this is the way it is meant to be! That is why God has given us His Word to expose the lies within us and to reveal the truth!
In my own personal life, I have found peace in knowing that while God does have a plan and a purpose for my life, I do not need to seek after them like a child anxiously peering over God's shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of the future. Instead I will trust my Sovereign, Holy, Creator God and allow Him to guide me to and through the perfect plans He has made just for me. The fact is that God has charted out a course for my life. He has plans for me that are just for me. His Word says so! I can waste my time worrying about what they are and seeking them.... OR.. I can trust God to lead me where He has planned for me to be. The mere fact that I cannot see where God is leading me or where exactly He is working in my life, shows me my need to trust Him to be my Shepherd and for me to trust Him to guide me to where He wants me. Perhaps, I cannot see where His is leading me, or where exactly He is working in my life so I will learn to trust in Him and His guidance and not in my own.
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)
Do you trust God to handle all the tiny details of your life? Or are you struggling for control over them?
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
I think it is interesting that most people who quote that passage in Jeremiah 29 ONLY quote verse 11. Yes, that verse shows us that God has a plan for our lives, however, what the rest of the passage says is that the plan God has for you will not be revealed UNLESS you are seeking after Him wholeheartedly. God and His plan for you are not difficult to find if you are seeking after Him with all you've got. If you seek Him, you WILL find Him.
God is soverign, which means He is in control of every tiny aspect of your life. So, in the end, His plan and purpose for you will prevail. The passages below show this to be the truth.
"The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." (Psalm 138:8)
"But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:11)
"You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." (Proverbs 19:21)
So, If God is ultimately in control of ever tiny, minute detail of our lives, then why do we worry so much about the things that happen in our lives? Perhaps, it is because we want the control over our lives and we do not trust God to look out for our best interest. This is, afterall, the reason I have struggled with all the things that have happened in my life. As I look to God and I look to His Word for direction, I am discovering more and more about myself as I learn more about God. I believe this is the way it is meant to be! That is why God has given us His Word to expose the lies within us and to reveal the truth!
In my own personal life, I have found peace in knowing that while God does have a plan and a purpose for my life, I do not need to seek after them like a child anxiously peering over God's shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of the future. Instead I will trust my Sovereign, Holy, Creator God and allow Him to guide me to and through the perfect plans He has made just for me. The fact is that God has charted out a course for my life. He has plans for me that are just for me. His Word says so! I can waste my time worrying about what they are and seeking them.... OR.. I can trust God to lead me where He has planned for me to be. The mere fact that I cannot see where God is leading me or where exactly He is working in my life, shows me my need to trust Him to be my Shepherd and for me to trust Him to guide me to where He wants me. Perhaps, I cannot see where His is leading me, or where exactly He is working in my life so I will learn to trust in Him and His guidance and not in my own.
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)
Do you trust God to handle all the tiny details of your life? Or are you struggling for control over them?
