The Plan

It seems like no matter what we do, hard times in life always come around. It doesn’t matter how wealthy, poor, connected, alone, educated, or accomplished you are, hard times still come.

When I think back through the hardest times in my life there are many things that helped me get through. I have been blessed with a great family that always help in hard times. I also have a fantastic church community that are great at supporting one another in good times and bad. Even with all of these great people in my life though, at some point I always end up facing a portion of any hardship on my own. I think this is normal, we all have to process and work through our hard times individually and not just together. I know for myself, if I don’t, I’m really just ignoring the problem.

It seems like every major trial that I have been through God has given me a specific Scripture passage or a song to focus on during the tough times and deep valleys. When I have gone through trials, as I have sought God, he has allowed me a simple thought to cling to in the moments of doubt. As I think through different times in my life that were tough, several Scriptures come to mind that I have held onto through specific valleys.

Psalm 46:1 comes to mind quickly. 

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

The principle in this verse that God is my strength and a “very present help” to me got me through a tough stretch of high school. I wrote it down, hung it up on the wall, and memorized it. This was so memorable that I still feel this comfort, just like I did years ago sitting in class. I think it is also memorable because it was likely the first time that I independently sought the Lord and clung to Him for myself. 

Since then, I have had tough times that were similar, yet not as memorable. I guess some trials in life are just more memorable than others.  I’ve also had times that, sadly, I didn’t seek God for help with my life. 

 Jeremy and I have served in ministry together for over 20 years. There are definitely hills and valleys in life and yes, also ministry. We personally have experienced extreme highs and devastating lows.

During one of our devastating lows of ministry, God allowed me to cling to Jeremiah 29:11.

For I know the plans I have for you, 

declares the Lord, 

plans for welfare and not for evil, 

to give you a future and a hope.

This was a comfort at a time where I felt our plans we’re lost. We really didn’t know what to do next, where to go, or who to call. I memorized this verse and often repeated it to myself when I had moments of doubt, fear, anger, sadness, and uncertainty. Those moments were very frequent. I also quoted this verse to many of my family members. God really used it to help us put our focus on him instead of us. 

Over the last month I have been slowly reading through the book of Jeremiah. I was actually excited as I approached chapter 29. Since verse 11 is so close to my heart and so special to me, I did make a point to try to look at it with a fresh perspective.

This passage was written to the Israelites when they were in captivity. They knew that they would be there for a long time.(70 years) God had allowed them this time of limited freedom. I love that during this time God took the time to talk to them about what would happen after the captivity. He reminded them of the promises that he had made to them. He encouraged them with the fact that he still had great plans for them even though they were not “free”. He points them towards the future restoration that he had for them. 

Could there be any more encouraging thoughts, when you are in bondage, than to know that you will be restored? 

The key that jumped out to me in this passage as I read through this time was actually verses 12 and 13

12 Then you will call upon me

 and come and pray to me,

 and I will hear you. 

13 You will seek me and find me, 

when you seek me with all your heart.

God’s people had neglected praying to God and coming to him with their problems or even their worship. As a whole, they were NOT seeking Him. This is what led them into this physical captivity. This was like the ultimate grounding. God had told them what was expected yet they did not obey. He is the example of a consistent parent here as He followed through with this prophesied punishment.

I can definitely relate to this passage. I mentioned before that there have been times in my life that I was going through a tough time and did not seek God.  These times I have felt as if I were in captivity. The longer I wait to take my problem to God, the longer I’m bound by that problem.

Have you ever felt  like you were in spiritual bondage? Are you living in your own type of bondage now? This is such a painful place to live. I know because I have been there. I feel like the way out of this bondage is spelled out for us in verses 12 and 13. This is the explanation of God’s plans for us, 

Call- Are you so bound that all you can do is say His name? That’s really ok. That’s the first step to freedom. If that’s all you can bring yourself to do, I challenge you to do just that! I have had times that I had no other words.

Come- Take steps in your life toward God. This looks different for everyone. Attend a worship service, call a trusted friend, listen to a sermon podcast, turn on worship music. Make your move. Even baby steps count.

Pray- This is a natural progression. If all you can do is call His name, then that’s where you start. As you take small baby steps toward God, the next natural step is to talk TO God. That is all prayer is. We talk. God listens. Let that soak in… God listens.

Seek- When we look for God we will find Him. He really is everywhere! We of course know that we can find Him, and his truth in His Word, but everywhere you look, He is there.

Search- Did you notice the phrase,”search for me with all your heart”? This is the phrase that really jumped out at me. Do I really put my heart into the search for what God has for me? He isn’t hiding & waiting for us like in the game. We really just have to stop counting and open our eyes. I have found myself praying lately for God to open my eyes. I don’t want to be so focused on things of my choosing. I really want to focus on what he wants for me.

When we follow this plan, we always experience the future of hope that God desires for us. We will find freedom! The good things He wants for us are real and attainable.

Whether I am spiritually bound, or looking to fulfill God’s purpose for my life, the plan is the same:

He wants me to call out to Him.

He wants me to come to Him.

He wants me to talk to Him.

He wants to listen to me.

He wants me to look for Him.

He wants to be found by me.

He wants me to search with all of my heart.

He wants me to KNOW Him. 

This is The Plan.