There are a lot of verses in the Bible – over 31,000. To pick one out of the pile is a difficult task even for a pastor. Being a pastor over 17 years, I am somewhat familiar with the text of Scripture. I would have to say that my favorite comes from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. The Jews had been deported to Babylon and were wondering what they should do. Their lives had been shattered and their country destroyed. Jeremiah wrote back telling them to settle in and prosper in this foreign country. He finished his instruction with:
“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.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Before entering the ministry, I worked in industry, having the privilege of meeting many people. Becoming a pastor, I have had the opportunity to meet many more people in a variety of situations from churches to hospitals. My experience has taught me that we all go through times of difficulty and hardship. Our world can be shattered by the loss of a loved one, a parent, spouse, sibling or, even worse, a child. Sometimes, it can be a financial setback, loss of a job, or relocation. Sometimes it can even be something physical, a dreaded diagnosis. Our world is turned upside down and we are left devastated saying, “Why, God? Why?”
As a pastor, I have found the why question to be the most difficult to answer. As a fellow traveler, most times I simply respond saying, “I really don’t know.” In my youth and inexperience, I would try and come up with some kind of answer to the question, why? Those answers were really guesses on my part and really didn’t satisfy. They knew that I didn’t know. I only wish that I had the courage to admit the obvious; I didn’t know why God allowed this to happen.
I have come to learn that people are ok with not knowing the exact reason why if they know that God genuinely cares for them and has a reason even if we can’t perceive it. “In good faith,” I tell them God does have plans for them; he hasn’t abandoned them. His plans are not to harm them, but to give them a future and a hope. Jeremiah tells us that. God has plans, good plans. Plans that give us a wonderful future filled with hope. Ultimately, God expresses this in the life and work of his Son, Jesus Christ. Each day, I rise knowing that in Christ, God has a future for me filled with hope. That’s why Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite verse. I trust that you will find comfort through this verse that will give you the ability to meet life’s challenges with a renewed sense of hope.
