Some of us are planners. Others are not. But, regardless of where we are on that spectrum, when our world comes crashing down, we all begin to lose hope. Morale declines quickly when we don’t see any viable solutions to bad predicaments. This was certainly the case for the southern tribes of Israel when the Babylonians ransacked the capital of Judah by destroying Jerusalem. Not only did they destroy the city, including the temple, but they also exiled most of the people.
Jeremiah, who was one of the most hated prophets, never stopped preaching. Even though the people wouldn’t listen and repent, he kept preaching. Jeremiah warned the Israelites to repent. Instead of listening, they mocked Jeremiah. His scrolls were read, torn, and thrown into a fire at the orders of King Zedekiah. He was imprisoned and then thrown into a cistern and left for dead. Yet Jeremiah still encouraged the Israelites. He told the faithful remnant to remain faithful.
Jeremiah wrote a letter that said, “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you” (Jeremiah 29:10-12). God went on to say, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (vs. 13). Unfortunately, Jeremiah never lived to see that day. Seventy years later Cyrus allowed the Jews to come back to Jerusalem to rebuild. This is recorded in the scriptures. We have to trust that God has plans for us. His way and his will are perfect! No matter what comes our way, God’s plans will prevail.