Plans

“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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:11-13.-

This scripture came to my mind recently. It is a well known scripture that I have always found comfort in. This time the Lord showed me a new perspective. I usually emphasize certain words when I say these verses to myself that focus on the promise I receive, but I felt the Holy Spirit emphasize different words to me this time. Instead it was stated in my mind like this,

For I know the plans I have for you…. The focus was on the One who holds the plans. 

I have been reminded lately with how well the Lord knows me. It is so much better than I know myself. He knows the past, present and future me. He knows the parts that I can’t see/know of ALL those versions. And in that knowing, he knows what is best to serve the present and future me.

I love to make plans. I like to plan vacations, fun weekend outings with my family, and even the meals we eat during the week as a family. I like to know what is next. I take comfort in being prepared. I have found myself saying no to events not because I didn’t want to do them, but because I was taken off guard!  It's fun for me to plan and it also brings anxiety when I don’t know what is ahead. 

While all of that seems harmless, it can be rooted in the need to control outcomes in some way. As I am getting older and experiencing life, I am realizing how very little we truly are in control of. The plans we make for ourselves can solve only the current problem or have limited outcomes because we are human after all. Human beings with hurts that can lead to ceilings of our own potential and a limited view of what God can and will do at times. God’s plans encompass so much more. He is so much more dynamic than we are. He sees what is ahead and knows our full potential. Somehow the planner in me has to be satisfied and trust in the Ultimate Planner of my life. 

He also doesn’t have to tell me what those plans are and where they might be leading. Not knowing where the plans lead but still moving forward can be like a long distance run. Knowing there is more, but the only part visible is just to the first hill. We just have to put one foot in front of the other and trust in the One who leads and guides and have faith that there is more and that it is for our best. In this particular season, I feel as though I’m getting bread crumbs that are leading to something, but I have no idea what that something is. However, I know the Lord is in it and has gone before me because of the little bread crumbs I can see.I am grateful for the evidence, however small it may seem at times. I can trust that those plans are good because of the character of the One who holds them. Faith like a child in the very best Father we could ever ask for.

Another part of that scripture that hits me is the invitation to trust in Him who knows you. Who knows the plans for you. The scripture says if we call on him, and come and pray to him and listen to him, we will find Him. God is inviting us into a trusting relationship with Him. He is the one true prize. Not the future plan He has for us but the time in relationship He has with us. 

“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. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”