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.

Jeremiah 29:11 (larger context Jer. 29:1-23)

This is one of those verses, in one of those passages, that fill me with wonder and amazement about our human relationship with God. Think about it: Here I am at my little computer somewhere near Nowheresville in Central Florida going about my very unremarkable day… and God has big plans for me! I’m pretty much nobody, living pretty much nowhere and God has taken notice of me and made plans?

Oh, and let’s not forget, He’s taken notice of you too, and made plans.

Amazing, incredible, stunning!

If you look at the context of Jeremiah 29, the prophet is writing to people who have just been taken captive and shipped out to Babylon, where God will rescue them in 70 years’ time.

And He has big plans; they will have hope and a future.

So, here’s how I see it: We see in this God’s attitude toward His people after He has had to deal with their sin, rebellion, and lack of repentance. He still loves them, and will redeem them. For us, redemption has already come in the Person of Jesus Christ, we do not need to wait. God has a plan for each of us, has hope for each of us, and a future for each of us. Even though none of us is perfect, and even though we all mess up from time-to-time, He still loves us, and God’s love is the most powerful force in the universe.

Pretty cool, don’t you think?