A Promise for the New Year

Jeremiah 29:11

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.

As 2022 closes and 2023 opens, a new year full of unknowns and what ifs, it is helpful to draw on God’s precious promises that we find in his Word. This verse in Jeremiah is a comfort to the troubled soul.

I’ve heard it quoted many times, but I think it’s important to understand the historical context of this verse and not just the literary context. Why did Jeremiah the prophet write this verse and who did he write it to?

Often, we take a verse from the Bible and claim the promise for ourselves, taking comfort in what we read, and that is good and helpful, but if we look further into the context of the verse, we will gain more understanding which brings about a deeper, more relevant and powerful meaning for our lives.

Learning the context of the verse can help us avoid the tendency we have of reading into scripture our own desired meaning, and instead, find what it is God is saying and what is really intended.

I think sometimes we read this verse and think that it promises blessings abundant and a life without problems. “thoughts of peace and not evil”. But if we’ve dug into our Bibles enough, we know that in this life there will be tribulations. It is a given. It’s a when, not an if.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

There will be difficulties, but God has a plan and a purpose, and we can live in the hope that he knows what’s best and he can work through our circumstances to bring glory to his name.

Now, back to our context.

Jeremiah was a prophet sent by God to deliver his message to his people throughout their hardships and trials. He spoke to the Jews who had been living under oppressive Egyptian and then Babylonian rule and had been carried away into exile from their home country, Jerusalem, into Babylon.

In the previous chapter, we find Jeremiah rebuking a false prophet called Hananiah. Hananiah was spreading false hope to the people of God, telling them that God would deliver them from their enemies after 2 years and they would return to their home. (Jer. 28:11)

But God spoke to Jeremiah and told him some hard truths to share with God’s people. Jeremiah had the difficult job of informing the Jews that instead of 2 years captivity, they would be enslaved for 70 years.

Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

And straight after this we read our key verse.

Jeremiah 29:11

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.

God’s people would not be delivered straight away. Not for 70 years. But God would be with them and would not forget them in their distress.

As Christians, we often cry out to God to rescue us immediately, without delay, right now. We are a generation addicted to instant gratification. We want fast food. Fast service. Same day shipping. Instant drying nails. Instant curls etc etc.  But God doesn’t always take us out of a difficult situation speedily. God knows the importance of the wait. He knows the power of silence. The strength in stillness.

Instead of God giving us what we want instantly, he makes us wait, but as we wait, he promises to be with us through our trial. He promises that regardless of our current situation, he can work through it to prosper us and bring about the end that he desires.

He doesn’t always choose to calm the storm that rages around us, sometimes he wants to calm the storm inside us and bring inner peace. He wants to bring peace to our hearts.

His thoughts toward us are not evil. He has thoughts of peace. He wants us to live in hope. The ‘expected end’ is one of hope.

Jeremiah told the people that they would be in Babylon for quite some time, so they were to settle down. Build houses, plant gardens, marry and seek peace.

Jeremiah 29:5-7 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters……..

And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Maybe you’re facing a difficult situation right now. Maybe you are struggling financially, or you are dealing with sickness. Maybe it is a relationship that you’re struggling to restore. God promises that the pain will pass, and it is all in his plan and purpose.

Rest assured, you are not the only one facing hardship. All around us are hurting people. We are all in this together, but as Christ-followers, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s plans for us are not evil and that he will bring us to HIS expected end in HIS perfect timing.

Remember it is HIS expected end and HIS perfect timing. Not ours! God works with a different timepiece, and he uses a different daily planner than we do.

We would love for Christ to return today, and carry us up to Heaven, taking us out of this fallen world. But it may not be today. Or tomorrow. Or this year. We may have a longer captivity here on this earth, and it is our job to live as shining lights here, going about our business, fulfilling our God-given callings, with the promise of God ringing in our ears, that he will protect and provide, comfort and guide if we seek him with a whole heart and obey his voice.

Just as the people of God had to trust the Lord and wait 70 long years for their deliverance, we too have to learn to trust God, and as we trust we can not only feel his presence, but we can have the peace in knowing that he is in control, and he will be with us.

Take a look at the verses that follow and the blessed promises they hold for the child of God.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Did you see what it said? God promises to be found when you seek, and to hear when you call. When we, with all our hearts, seek him and call upon him, he WILL be found, and he WILL listen. Not might, but will!

So, as you venture forth into a new year, filled with many unknowns, remember that God is the God of the known. He knows. He sees. And nothing is hidden from him. So, whatever it is that you’ll face this year, he knows all about it and he has plans in place already. God is never surprised.

 

Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

 

Trust him. Obey him. Love him. Call out to him. Hope in him.

 

Psalm 31:24
 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.