Life can throw many hardships and heartache at us. There are times it’s hard to trust in God, but He cares immensely for us and will guide us towards a hopeful future.
It’s a Tuesday morning, and I’m at my ladies’ Bible study, sitting in a circle of wise women who are on average 30 years older than me.
“Does anybody know Jeremiah 29:11?” the leader asks.
Betty says, “I know the plans I have for you…”
I chime in, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,”
Someone in the circle finishes, “to give you a hope and a future.”
By the time I had spoken those words, my brother-in-law was already dead. That was the day I started to believe a lie…
False Doctrine
Like all lies, this one seeped into my soul without my consent. I didn’t understand why my healthy, hard-working, funny brother-in-law was taken from us. He died of natural causes from an undiagnosed health issue, and it came as a complete shock to everyone.
I started to avoid Jeremiah 29:11. I knew, without a doubt, that my brother-in-law wasn’t meant to die so young. It felt as though the story of his life had ended mid-sentence, and we were left to flip through blank pages that would never be filled.
The only way I could reconcile my faith in God with this death was to unintentionally believe a lie. False doctrine filled my head in the guise of biblical truth.
I moved on to actively rolling my eyes at Jeremiah 29:11. I knew that God was good, that He truly wanted to rescue us, and that He loved us. But did He have plans for us? I didn’t think so anymore. I chose to believe that God’s design was for salvation, but anything other than that was beyond His intervention.
In my shock and sadness, I made God small, weak and unloving. Without even meaning to, I erased from my mind His care for us and His intentions for our lives. The very idea of God’s guidance made my heart hurt.
Simple Truth
I thank God I didn’t stay in that place. It was the simple truth of His words that removed the lies I believed…
With your unfailing love, you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.
Exodus 15:13, NLT
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‘Go in peace’, the priest replied. ‘For the Lord is watching over your journey.’
Judges 18:6, NLT
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I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night, my heart instructs me.
Psalm 16:7, NLT
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The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’
Psalm 32:8, NLT
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You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Psalm 73:24, NLT
Peace for the Future
God used these verses to gently show me I was deceived about Him. And, friends, He was so kind to me. Instead of feeling shame about what I’d believed, I felt only peace and joy. The fact that He cared enough to show me the truth meant that He did, in fact, have plans for me.
I’ve come to a place of awe over the mystery of life and death, and I feel freedom in my limited understanding of God’s plans. I’m happily resting in the reign He has over my life, and I trust His guidance once again.
If you’re having trouble trusting in God or are questioning how much He cares, I’m praying you can come to know the truth. God has good things for you. He’s ready to guide you into a full, abundant life. You will face challenges, hardships, and unexpected loss, but take heart, because He has overcome the world.
God will Guide
The truth is that God has numbered the hairs on your head and collected each of your tears. A God who cares so infinitely for you hasn’t left you to navigate life alone. You might not be able to see it or understand it, but God has plans to prosper you and to give you hope.
God cares so infinitely for us that He hasn't left us to navigate life alone. God has plans to prosper us and to give us hope for the future. Click To Tweet
You can trust in His guidance, and He’ll forgive you even if you’ve rolled your eyes at His words, as I did. He’s waiting to fill you with truth, love, and hope. Just open His word and receive.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
John 16:13, NLT
Laura is a wife and stay-at-home mom who loves encouraging others and passing along grace out of her own flawed experiences.
She shares light-hearted words of inspiration and faith at her blog, Cheered on Mom, and she can’t wait to cheer you on.
You can also connect with Laura on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
