The future's so bright I've got to wear shades - Carrie Roark

Ok. Show of hands. How many of you would say that Jeremiah 29:11 is your favorite verse? I’d bet many hands are raised right now. It’s a good one, right. “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.”

This is a popular verse because of the promise of good things to come. Life is difficult, is it not? Hard things come at us very often. Sometimes, it may feel like we are faced with hard things ALL the time. Many find themselves with some questions. When will it let up? Why isn’t God doing something to stop it? Am I doing something to deserve it? So this verse is comforting because it is encouraging to know that plans are in place for good things too. It provides relief and gears us up to have patience to hold on through our tough times. It is a great verse. There is hope!

When I read it recently, a new phrase stood out to me that colored the meaning in a cool way. The words that tend to be focused on are the words that God has “plans to…” *insert good things here*. But the first words hit me this time, “For I KNOW the plans I have for you…” He not only plans good things for our future, but he knows what they are already in his omniscience.

Remember at Christmas when you were a kid? Your parents would go to all this trouble and expense to get you special surprises for Christmas. The best part for them and for you was the anticipation of the good things that were to planned. Did they ever tease you with the fact that they knew what you were getting but you had to wait? Did your dad ever say, “I can’t wait for you to see what we got you for Christmas!” 

You see, he KNEW what the plans were, therefore he KNEW how good they were. It made me feel so cared for and valued. Did it for you too? God says, “I KNOW the plans I have for you. And it will be even better than what you are thinking.” That’s a paraphrase, obviously. 

It adds a deeper level of comfort to the promise for me. I can count on good things to come my way in the future. I can rest in that promise. But also, my heavenly Father, is the one who planned them so he KNOWS what is in store. I love knowing he used his imagination and creativity and went to great expense to plan amazing things for me. I can’t help but feel deeply loved and cared for. And I can’t wait to see what he has in store!

Carrie Roark