However, before it can be applied, it must first be understood in context. This verse is often spoken as a promise of hope to people who are grieving or discouraged. Jeremiah 29:11 is often displayed on posters, T-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. As I anticipate the trials yet to come, I will remember the words I once heard, “When faced with the unknowns, I look to a God who is known.“‘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.’” This verse or portions of it are very popular. I may not have all the answers, but I serve a God who does. Over the years I’ve tried to stop asking God, “Why?” Instead, I strive to ask questions like, “What are you trying to teach me?” or “How can I use this to bring you glory?” I know some of her family and friends have unanswered questions and have struggled with the reality of her death. I don’t know if that was one of God’s intended outcomes of her death. This opened the doors to many spiritual conversations. In experiencing that compassion, I was able to extend it to the other athletes as I listened to their pain. I saw His compassion through His people as they stepped up to care for me and my other athletes. I experienced a different slice of God’s character. Her relationship with God is stronger today than it was four years ago. She would not be preparing for the 2016 Olympic Trials. It turned out she had a partially torn Achilles tendon and had she continued to race, she would have torn it completely and she would not be able to run any more. My friend experienced a new piece of God’s character – His protection. So when we’re given a piece that doesn’t make sense, we trust God that this piece wasn’t given to us by mistake-it was given to us because it is necessary for the bigger picture. As we understand that, we realize we have a loving God who has a long term plan to prosper us and not harm us. The Bible gives us a snapshot of the unfolding plan of God and our lives are small pieces of a much larger puzzle.
Jeremiah 29 verse11 full#
We try to make sense of it, but the fact of the matter is we can’t see the full picture of our lives. But sometimes He gives us a dark piece that doesn’t seem to fit with the others. Sometimes He gives us a piece that fits nicely with the other ones we have. What if we imagined our lives as a puzzle?Īs we go through our lives, God gives us pieces of our puzzle. SEEING THE DETAILS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE Our finite minds cannot fathom the things God has in store for us in heaven. We hope and long for what we consider “good” things, but God has a hope and a future full of great things. They may not know when or how, but they trust God and have a peace knowing He sees beyond the pain. It’s not because they enjoy pain, but because they believe everything is going to be okay. Time and time again, we see Christians then and now enduring hardships joyfully. Instead of shielding them from hard times, He draws closer to them in the midst of trials. If we look at the Bible as a whole, not just pieces here and there, we see God constantly calling His people into a relationship with Himself. True Biblical prosperity comes when we are in a relationship with God, when we are walking with Him and getting to know Him better. Regardless of the source, they’re always an opportunity to know God better. Sometimes trials are of our own doing sometimes they’re the work of Satan sometimes they’re just an effect of living in a broken world. Although they faced many trials, these disciples of Jesus had the bigger picture in mind. James makes it clear in his book that we will face trials ( James 1:2) and Peter tells us not to be surprised by the trials that come our way ( 1 Peter 4:12). It was not even the case for Christ Himself while He was on earth. But when we turn to the Bible, we see that is not the case for any follower of Christ. It is often believed that as a Christian, our life will be all rainbows and butterflies. Not only were they exiled, but it was God who sent them there. Ironically, Jeremiah wrote these words to God’s people who were in exile. We can’t believe this pain will somehow benefit us. Yet pain outside our sport is unacceptable. I can’t count the number of times I’ve said, “Pain is just weakness leaving the body.” We willingly put strain on our muscles because we know the pain will pay off. I became impatient with my athletes and “Why?” was a question that constantly plagued my thoughts.Īs athletes, we expect pain in our sports. I felt guilty because I didn’t notice she was gone. I was angry at God for allowing it to happen. After my athlete died, I experienced a slew of emotions.
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