I know the plans He has for me.
Do you have a particular quote that resonates deeply with you? A quote that has been a source of hope, that calms you in troubling times, that serves as a guide in this difficult and trying journey called life? Or that you just love for no other reason that you love it?
It may have been coined by you; it might be a famous saying, whose origin is lost - or not - author is known - maybe long dead, maybe not - or unknown; a quote from a religious book. It does not matter really. You have a quote. It has become your mantra, your lifeline, your go-to words when things seem shaky.
My quote I stumbled upon by chance and at a time when I needed an anchor in my uncertain world, a time when I wondered if the universe wasn't conniving to ensure nothing went right and whatever was right would go wrong. I found it in the pages of a book that was part of a series. A quote from the Bible. And though I am Christian and should have been familiar with my Bible (I'm still not, unfortunately) I had never seen or heard of that particular verse.
It jumped at me and gave me a good strong smack!
The verse was Jeremaiah 29 v 11.
Different Bible translations have worded the verse differently:
The New International version says "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.
King James version says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
The Catholic Women's Bible, using the New Standard Revised version says "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope."
Many more forms exist but these three are my favourites.
At a time when things seemed bleak and frankly, life did not seem worth living - the struggle was getting to me, I will confess - that verse gave me renewed faith in the Christian God that I had, and have, always believed in. No matter what I was going through, He had a plan for me. He had a plan, for me. And no matter how many wrong turns I took, no mater the haters hating, regardless of the party poppers raining on my parade, despite the people who deliberately or unknowingly were keeping or trying to keep me down, and in spite of how terrible I felt about myself, God wanted only good things for me - He had a future for me and He would give me the hope I needed to get me through the maze of negatives so I could emerge triumphant.
That particular dark time has gone by. More have come and gone. Certainly, many more will come.
I may be a little afraid and pray that God not ever let me have any seriously dark times, but in all of that, I know something.
I know His plans for me are good and for good, and to give me a future filled with hope and with an expected end.
Have a great week.
It may have been coined by you; it might be a famous saying, whose origin is lost - or not - author is known - maybe long dead, maybe not - or unknown; a quote from a religious book. It does not matter really. You have a quote. It has become your mantra, your lifeline, your go-to words when things seem shaky.
My quote I stumbled upon by chance and at a time when I needed an anchor in my uncertain world, a time when I wondered if the universe wasn't conniving to ensure nothing went right and whatever was right would go wrong. I found it in the pages of a book that was part of a series. A quote from the Bible. And though I am Christian and should have been familiar with my Bible (I'm still not, unfortunately) I had never seen or heard of that particular verse.
It jumped at me and gave me a good strong smack!
The verse was Jeremaiah 29 v 11.
Different Bible translations have worded the verse differently:
The New International version says "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.
King James version says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
The Catholic Women's Bible, using the New Standard Revised version says "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope."
Many more forms exist but these three are my favourites.
At a time when things seemed bleak and frankly, life did not seem worth living - the struggle was getting to me, I will confess - that verse gave me renewed faith in the Christian God that I had, and have, always believed in. No matter what I was going through, He had a plan for me. He had a plan, for me. And no matter how many wrong turns I took, no mater the haters hating, regardless of the party poppers raining on my parade, despite the people who deliberately or unknowingly were keeping or trying to keep me down, and in spite of how terrible I felt about myself, God wanted only good things for me - He had a future for me and He would give me the hope I needed to get me through the maze of negatives so I could emerge triumphant.
That particular dark time has gone by. More have come and gone. Certainly, many more will come.
I may be a little afraid and pray that God not ever let me have any seriously dark times, but in all of that, I know something.
I know His plans for me are good and for good, and to give me a future filled with hope and with an expected end.
Have a great week.
hmmmn, this resonates deeply..... Thanks for the reminder of God's infinite love and mercy. . . . .
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