“As to our present pain and grief, God saw not these, but He saw the future joy and usefulness that will come of them.” – Charles Spurgeon
Have you ever been at a point in your life where everything seems so uncertain? When you can’t see how anything in your life could possibly work out with the mess it is? I know, for me, in these moments, I tend to start panicking. I just want this pain/suffering/uncertainty over with, yet I see no way out.
Now, do me a favor and think about one of the hardest things you’ve lived through. Sounds like fun, right?! Just humor me. I have a point, I promise. Think back to that time and how it felt as though it would never end. I know it’s painful, and it is for me also. I do think it’s important to expose ourselves to a glimpse of the pain so that we can focus on the good part.
We survived those challenges. We made it through, though sometimes only by the skin of our teeth. But in those moments, the pain is so real and intense that we can’t bring ourselves to believe it will end.
That’s just it, friend! WE don’t know. WE don’t know how we will get by. WE don’t know if it will ever end. HE knows. HE knows exactly what we are living with and He will see us through. Just like He’s done before.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
If you shop for any Christian merchandise or follow any Christian social media accounts, chances are you see this verse all over the place. But instead of sharing a pretty picture with pretty words, let’s dig a bit deeper. Welfare can also be translated here as peace. And this is logical, since scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:15, God has called us to peace. That peace isn’t only the environment around us, but within ourselves as well.
He has plans of peace for us. If you find yourself in a markedly conflicted time, find rest in the fact that He does have plans of peace for you. HE knows what He has in store for us. You can bet your life on that one. Let’s look further, down to verse 12.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
I interpret this to mean He does have plans for us, but we have to do our part to make them a reality. We have to go to our Father. When we do, He promises to listen. As our perfect Father, His heart breaks with ours and His sympathy is nothing any human could match. Now let’s look at verse 13.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
In order for His plans for us to be executed, we have to seek Him genuinely. We can’t throw up empty prayers. It has to come from the heart.
In these moments where I’m utterly lost, even with as much time as I spend in scripture, I have to remind myself of what I should do. I have to go in my room, (see Matthew 6:6), make sure I won’t be interrupted and get down on my knees. I allow myself to really feel the pain that’s haunting me so that my prayer comes from a place that is real, genuine, and, quite honestly, desperate. We are desperate for Him, are we not? We will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart.
That place of vulnerability, that’s what God wants us to share with Him. He wants us to be real with Him. That allows Him to be real with us. I have to confess, prayer isn’t always my first resort. We live in a world run by Satan. He tries to keep us so busy, so distracted, so wrapped up in the suffering, we don’t turn to God. But that’s exactly what our first step should be.
He knows.
Our minds are so limited while we are here, physically separated from Him. We can’t know what He has in store for us. But, if we seek Him, call upon Him and be real with Him; He will put His plans into fruition. Don’t lose sight of that. Don’t lose hope. Don’t ever lose hope.
He loves us more than we can comprehend. Rest in that love and seek His peace. It is my prayer that God shows you your path and that you always seek Him first. Thanks for reading and God bless!
Stephanie Lynn
