A secure hope

In the Old Testament, we read about the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke to the Jews living under the controlling authority of foreign empires. One can imagine how difficult it would be to live under that kind of strident domination and control.

Jeremiah told the people they would be exiled to Babylon for at least 70 years, and they should settle down, build houses, marry, and even pray for the peace and prosperity of the city in which they now found themselves (Jeremiah 29:4-10).

His prophetic words were spoken to people in the midst of hardship and suffering, but God’s response then, and even now, is that he does not always provide immediate escape from difficult situations. Rather, God promises that He has a plan to prosper his people, sometimes in the midst of their current situations. We refer to Romans 8:28 that tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” This should reassure us to look beyond our circumstances and focus on God in the storms of life.

Christians facing difficult situations today can take comfort in the words of Jeremiah, knowing that God is still on the throne and hasn’t forgotten us. He has a plan for our lives as we walk in faith while trusting in Him. Regardless of our current state, especially in this current culture, we can be assured that He can work through it all to prosper us and give us hope, joy, and a blessed future.