“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts…to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
I greet you in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I trust that today, regardless of your plans, you will remember to honour God always.
Such a funny thing they can be: ‘PLANS.’ For a man to have determined expectations of how events will occur, and make decisions to spark actions based on those expectations. We all do it, ‘make plans.’ As a matter of fact, disappointments in our lives are a result of those plans failing or, at the very core, the expectations failing to materialise.
From an early age, we have an idea of what our lives should look like as adults. As adults, those ideas become determined expectations. Many of us, however, suffer from calamities, setbacks, disasters, the actions of evil people, etc. When this happens, we become discontent, unhappy, and traumatised, none of which were ever a part of our plans. This can give way to depression, sadness, and a loss of faith.
The reality is that while no one wants or deserves bad things to happen to them, they may still occur, and our defeatist feeling may be deemed valid because we do not have control over the elements and circumstances that affect plans.
This Christmas season, however, we bring good tidings. The One who holds time and eternity in His hands has a plan for each of our lives. No calamity or abuser can stop God’s plan. No disaster or setback, no lies or evil person can stop God’s intention for your future.
We have been trained to greet disappointments with despair, but today, we repent. From today, we meet setbacks with a step up in faith. Why? Because God’s plan for us is restoration, redemption, reconciliation, and renewal in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus’s sacrifice was never a reaction; no, it was God’s plan even before men were created. For everything we lost, God’s plan has already factored in the recovery.
What a blessed assurance to have! How refreshing is it to know that our great and merciful God has plans of goodness and prosperity for us. When bad things happen, rest assured that our loving Father will be there to take us through and make us stronger. Why? Because we are the most precious part of His plans.
Read: Jeremiah 33:6; Matthew 11:28-30Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 145:1-7; Revelation 11; Ezra 4:6-24; Ezra 5
