Have you ever felt like God just hung you out to dry? You were walking through life, minding your own business, and all of a sudden you're thrust into some really difficult circumstances. I have good news for you. God has a plan for you. He even has a plan for that difficult situation you're in; more than that, He knows you're in it.
God's people found themselves in a situation like this. They had been taken captive by Babylon, and were questioning how this could be the case. Had God turned His back on them? Did He sell them out? What was going on? In the midst of this time, God spoke to His people this encouraging word. I know what you're going through, but fear not, I have big plans for you. God is saying the same thing to you.
Jeremiah 29:4-14
4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
10 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. 11 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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Questions
1. Would it be hard for you to trust God if you had become a slave in a foreign land?
2. What's the hardest part of trusting God in difficult times?
3. What's you're favorite part of this passage?
1 comment:
1. Would it be hard for you to trust God if you had become a slave in a foreign land?
maybe not a trust problem but maybe a respect problem, like i wouldnt want to do things for Him.
2. What's the hardest part of trusting God in difficult times?
thinking that you need to take it into own hansds.
3. What's you're favorite part of this passage?
verses 12-14
b/c reassures me that God will remember me even over a bunch of years, and even when "exiled" He will always remember me!
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