“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14 NKJV
I asked for encouragement this morning, and by no confidence, the above verse is where my reading begins. "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Such comfort offered in a world in great turmoil.
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart".
We all at some point will find ourselves in a position where we have to seek Him with our whole heart, and then we find Him!
When everything in our world is turned upside down; when the solution we come up with does not come about; when it feels like our prayers don't make it past the ceiling; giving up is our only choice - THAT is where we find our hope in Him!
In The Word we are told to trust, hope, believe, and surrender.
In the world we are told to be strong; never give up; believe in yourself! Totally the opposite of what God wants us to do! We are not in control; He is! Giving up our will for His will, in our lives is where we will find our peace. He sees the big picture, whereas we don't! All we see is the impossible, but He has a plan.
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 NKJV
Saving many people, saving just your family, or even just your own salvation; He works everything out for our good, when we let go, and not pick it back up! It may not be what we would have chosen, but we are not God; He Is!
When we "stand", we are to stop striving and let Him do it! We take it to mean "dig our heels in" the dirt and become unmovable! He wants us to stand aside, rest and see His salvation!
“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today.”
Exodus 14:13a NKJV
We have every reason to trust Him if we consider all He has already done for us! He gave His all; how can we not give ours?
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV
No matter what you are going through in your life - Trust Him!
He will not leave you nor forsake you, no matter what it looks like; keep your eyes on Jesus!
“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
Hebrews 12:3 NKJV
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18 NKJV
“while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18 NKJV
Even so - MARANATHA!
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