God has plans for us when we think he has not.

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

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

That is still true today! God plans for our welfare, not our harm. God is always ready to bless us, and it is up to us to devote ourselves to God.

This verse is an absolute favorite of mine. To read it gives the Christian a perspective of hope and a belief that his faith, if it is a sincere and true faith, will be blessed with Gods grace.

So many times we are given seasons in our lives where we feel our faith is being tested. The test lies within ourselves. Even Jesus, being God in the flesh, and with a full understanding of what was to take place, had a moment of doubt and pain. In that garden, the garden of Gesthemane’, he went to pray. But he was restored as the prophet Isaiah foretold. Jesus, knew what he was to endure, and just like any child would ask of his father, “Do I have to do this? Does it have to be this hard? Can’t we do it another way?”. But God the father had plans. Plans to restore not only Christ to his rightful place, but also restore humanity to a state of grace.

We as human beings living our lives here on earth at times lose sight of the blessings that are right there for us to claim because we are so caught up in the curses or the hardships of our lives. It is during these hardships that our faith must show itself at its strongest.

There is a blessing there for all of us if we only seek God with all our heart and remain faithful throughout the hard times as well as the good. I can tell you with all honesty that my frustration was beginning to over take my optimism when my unemployment had reached 4 months. I was starting to feel a sense of worthlessness and my mind was beginning to set in for an extended period of apathy. Then I caught myself. I prayed. Not once. Not twice. But steadily. In the car. As I washed dishes. During times of solitude. Before I laid down my head. I prayed to God saying things in almost a conversational tone. I told God I knew he was in charge. I reaffirmed my faith in him and prayed for him to reveal a purpose for all of this. I said if he was already revealing it then I asked for more clarity on my part so that I could understand what was expected of me. The prayers paid off. On one afternoon only a couple of weeks ago I was sitting alone in the living room having a cup of coffee, After I finished the paper I sat for a moment and something inside of me said to call my former employer. I did and he said it was good to hear from me and he would call the client I had previously been with to see what their situation was. The ball was rolling at that point and a day later I received a call from the client telling me I would be needed in two weeks. Things turned.

Now, I’m not saying this is it . This is the plan to prosper me. But I am saying God has returned me from exile and has heard my prayer just as he stated in the Jeremiah promise.

With Grace comes Gratitude.