My Christian Story on Notes

The Promise

"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."

It seems to me that this is the most popular translation of Jeremiah 29:11, of which is often misused and misapplied.

Personally, this verse translation has made a huge impact in the way I lived my life with regards to my dreams and to my knowledge of God.

I used to think that because God loves us, He will bless us in this life, as long as we trust in Him.

I used to think that God promised a wonderful and perfectly mapped out lifetime here, and we only have to walk in obedience to Him.

I used to think that God promised us prosperity, that however hard the paths to our dreams are, God will make all the hardships worthy in the future, as long as we believe in Him.

I used to think that there will come a day that "everything will fall into place" and "all will be alright in time" in this life, and we only need to patiently wait in God's perfect timing.

This verse translation taught me to expect the best and dream the life I want, and I used to find hope and comfort in thinking that I will one day live to my heart's content in this world, as long as I keep my faith unto God.

I so long thought that it's all about what God can and is going to do for me in this lifetime.

It was later when I saw Jeremiah 29:11 in a different light.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

This might be the most unpopular translation of Jeremiah 29:11 but in context, this speaks clearer to me.

After reading the verse in this translation and knowing its context, I found new meaning to this promise.

This verse translation gave light when I struggled understanding what God is doing in my life: for Jeremiah 29:11 is a promise that even though things might not make sense now, God's plan in the end is still good —and the end is not limited in this lifetime.

This blanket promise talks more than worldly prosperity and further than earthly hope and future.

It is rather a reminder that God is still in control. Even when things don't seem like it. Even when life is tough. Even when the world is falling apart around us. God is in control. Even in dark days and difficult situations we can have hope that God will lead us through the end He prepared and reserved for us.

It is a powerful reminder that even though we will not prosper in this life, be harmed, be hopeless and futureless, God's promises are still true because the truth is: He did not promise the fulfillment of our lives in this fallen world but in the world to come.

Some things might never really make sense in this life but God can see things we cannot. He sees the larger picture and is orchestrating an end we do not yet know about but an end we can expect —a perfect one.

The end will reveal the things we don't understand now and the end will reveal itself.

The prosperity and the hope and the future that God has planned for believers through Christ will be fully realized only after this life of suffering is over.

Until then, we have this promise:
God is with us and God is for us.

We can find peace and rest in that.

-  My Christian Notes