Fear Not: Trust Your Future To God's Plans

This verse is one of the most popular Bible verses. It is often taken out of context. Jeremiah 29 was addressed to the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon (a punishment from God for their sins). Jeremiah told them that they needed to stay put in Babylon for 70 years and seek peace and help prosper Babylon. After that, God would fulfill His promise of returning them to their home. Jeremiah 29:11 was God's promise and plans for the Israelites who were captives in Babylon. It sounds very encouraging yet God did not take away their suffering and very few or none in that generation of Israelites would return to their land.

Does this verse apply to us (those who are in Christ)? Yes, in a sense that God does know the plans He has for us. And He will ultimately give us a glorious future. Therefore, Jeremiah 29:11 can help us rely on God's unchanging nature (His grace, love, faithful care for His children) and not worry or fear about our future. It should make us think of confident hope and security in Christ in the midst of our trials and suffering. However, we must be careful not to misuse Jeremiah 29:11. First of all, Jeremiah 29:11 doesn't apply to everyone. There is no future and no hope for those without Christ (John 3:18). Secondly, the hope and future we have in Christ does not guarantee that we will never face any difficulties or dangers in life. 

God knows the specific plans and purposes He has for each one of us. Since God is always good, faithful, wise, loving, and all-knowing, we can and should totally trust Him and His plans for our lives/our future. God only wants what's best for us. Our future is bright and full of hope because it is in God's hands. In His hands, we are spiritually safe and secure today, tomorrow, and for all eternity. We don't have to be afraid of or anxious about the future because we know the One who holds the future. We are guaranteed the hope of glory (Christ in us) and a glorious future in Heaven with Him.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34) God gives us daily grace for our daily needs. Worry or fear about the future only rob us of today's peace and joy. "You can't change the past, but you ruin a perfectly good present by worrying about the future." (Unknown) "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength." (Corrie ten Boom) Trust God with your future. He is already there and He is aware of all your needs. "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

"Though I know not what awaits me,
What the future has in store,
Yet I know the Lord is faithful,
For I've proved Him oft before."
(Unknown)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for faithfully providing for me and sustaining me throughout my life! I trust You to do the same each and everyday, come what may. My life and future are in Your loving, capable, merciful hand. I only want Your will...nothing more...nothing less...nothing else. Please help me not to be afraid of or anxious about the future but to trust and rest in You with steadfast, childlike faith. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.