Circumstances, Prayer and Plans

“This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 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.” (Jeremiah 29:10-12 NIV)

Sometimes life’s circumstances seem like exile. We are restrained by the situation and think it is impossible to get free or ever return to normalcy again. Routine kills our spirit and initiative. We wake up, gulp down our coffee, rush out the door, inch through traffic, work eight hours or more, deal with after-work traffic, eat our dinner, go to bed, and do it all over again the next day. And the next, and the next . . .

What are we supposed to do in this conundrum? How do we break free? It is so easy to listen to positive affirmations that things will get better. We do not like to be told that we must settle down and accept the present circumstances. We do not want to slog through “our exile” until it is finished. We want to change our situation by changing our attitudes and perspectives and relationships and churches and so forth and so on.

It is a common human trait to refuse responsibility for our circumstances. Yet, there is a learning curve in all our circumstances and for the exiles from Judah it was seventy years. And they were instructed to settle down and not give up. They were instructed to reject false prophets. They were instructed to take hold of hope and look to the future. Obviously they had much to learn. And while they were learning they would pray, God would listen and do something to implement his plans.

Dear Father, thank you for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Empower us to look to our future and the plans you have for us. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Be strong and courageous as you trust God’s plans,