A Verse

Jer. 29:11 says, “For I know the plans for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope” (NASB).

As a senior in high school, I received a gift of Jer. 29:11 written out in calligraphy.  Honestly, at the time it was just another gift, but I framed it and set it on my dresser where I could see it each day. I had no way of knowing that soon the verse would become a touchstone for me. Like any other senior, my year involved much planning for the future—thoughts of schools and careers—and all those thoughts were full of my own hopes and dreams. Frustration over school and what to major in, relationship issues, and sadness were not part of my plans, but they did crop up those first three years of college. When things got really tough, I decided to look for answers in God’s word because I just wasn’t finding them anywhere else. That’s when Jeremiah 29:11 became more than just a verse. In order for me to believe that verse and apply it to my life, I had to believe that God exists and that He rewards the people who seek Him (Heb. 11:6). I had to believe that He is sovereign (II Sam. 7:22; Is. 46:9-11). If I didn’t believe these things, how could I put what was happening to me in the context of a righteous, loving God? I started reading and journaling daily and discovered that God had gifted me with enough faith to believe in spite of the sorrow that rested on my life during that time. Digging in His word for answers formed a spiritual platform that the rest of my life has rested upon. When I read God’s word today, I find so many examples of His plans that show they are good even though the people in them couldn’t see how at the time. God sees the beginning, the middle, and the end. He sees how our lives affect and intersect the lives of others. He sees the beauty that emerges from the ashes of our lives (Is. 61:3). His plan for us has been compared to a tapestry—we see the ugly strings from underneath, but He sees the beautiful pattern that He is creating through the events of our lives. Yes, there is pain involved in the human condition, but for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28), He weaves it all together in ways that bring Him glory and honor, and that makes all the difference. John 12:24 tells says that a seed cannot bring forth life until it falls to the ground and dies, but in death, it bears an abundance of fruit. Twenty years ago, I couldn’t see how the death of someone I loved could be part of God’s plan, but now I see that it caused me to seek Him and His word. I couldn’t see how I would survive, how it would bring Him glory, how he could use my small amount of faith—and honestly, I still don’t have the whole picture--but someday I will see. For now, I’m content knowing that whatever comes my way is part of His plan that is truly grand compared to the ones I tried to make for myself so long ago.