Send to Kindleby Robin MacKinley
Jeremiah 29:11 is a very well-known verse in the Bible. This verse of encouragement lets you know that God’s plans for your life are active and personal.
“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.” Jeremiah 29:11
We must read this verse in the context in which it is written. If we don’t, we can allow ourselves to become misled. Look at God’s promise in the next verse.
In those days when you pray, I will listen. Jeremiah 29:12
Those days? What days? To see what the Lord is talking about, we must look at the preceding verse.
This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. Jeremiah 29:10
The Israelites had already been exiled to Babylon. Because of their sin, they were taken into bondage by the Babylonians for 70 years. Their punishment consisted of having to leave the land that God gave them as an inheritance. They were going to be there for an entire generation, so here are God’s instructions.
“Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! Jeremiah 29:5-6
We know that God had wonderful plans for his people. So why were they taken out of the land that God promised them? To answer the question, it wasn’t God’s doing. He knew what his plans were for them. It was they who decided to go astray and worship other gods.
God is Patient
The Israelites failed by worshipping other gods. That is an activity that the God of the universe won’t stand for. Because He is a patient God, here’s what He said.
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. Jeremiah 29:12-14
When we quote a verse like Jeremiah 29:11, we expect God to immediately act upon it. That, however, doesn’t always happen. God does have plans for you. His plans for our lives are firm but can be put on hold as he patiently waits for us.
Sometimes he has to wait because of our disobedience. Or sometimes it’s because we need some character building. I know . . . because he has been patient with me in both cases. In Jeremiah’s day, God said that He would still implement His plans,
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. Jeremiah 29:14
Are God’s plans for your life on hold? Is there something in the way of what His plans are for you? He is ready, but He is also patient. His plans for you are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Lord, I know that you have plans for my life. Thank you for your patience as you help me to obediently.
About the Author:
Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.
Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”. He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.
These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.
Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.
