10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Is there a better place than High School graduation to see Hope and a future? Last night after months of delay, our youngest son, Mason, graduated from high school. Lee and I have been in the K12 education system for 25 consecutive years. Last night, that chapter closed. As I looked out at those kids seated 6 feet apart, almost filling the entire football field, I was reminded of the fact that they have their whole future ahead of them. They have been through a good deal in their high school career; they have learned to cut drywall after Harvey flooded their school, and most of our community, they have learned how to “share” another high school 10 miles away. And last night they graduated two months late because of COVID.
We often quote Jeremiah 29:11, “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.” But, we quote it as a stand-alone verse and take it out of context. There is so much more in these next few verses as well that we don’t want to miss.
Jeremiah 29 is a letter that was sent from Jerusalem to the exiles that Nebuchadnezzar had deported from Babylon. Jeremiah first reminds them of the promise of the Lord, to bring them back to Jerusalem, but it will be a while (70 years). The next verse is about Hope and their future. But, Verse 12-14 is about our part. We must call, come and pray to the Lord, seek until we find Him.
Yes, The Lord has great plans for each of us and Hope, but we must do our part and seek Him out. Dear Lord, let us find you as we seek you with all our hearts.
The New International Version. (2011). (Je 29:10–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
