Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Let’s look at a few of these words.
First of all, the word, thoughts, is defined as the plans and purpose. God knew, even before you were born, exactly what your plan and purpose was. However, as I dug a little deeper, I found that this word also means He has the means to bring it to pass. I love that!
In other words, scripture is saying, I know the plan and purpose of your life AND I have the means to bring it to pass.
The word, peace, is a word we have looked at often. It is the word shalom and means completeness, soundness of mind, safety, health, prosperity, tranquility and contentment. It also means peace from war. Again, I searched a little deeper and found this word also refers to completeness, a finished product and something coming to an end.
Now, we see that so far God is saying this. I know the plans and purposes I have for you and I have the means to bring it all to pass, I have the means, the power and ability to cause you to be complete, sound, safe, healthy, prosperous, tranquil and to bring you through every storm to the other side – to finish what I have started. The hard times, the lean times, the times of struggle will come to an end.
The word, expected, means the thing you have hoped for. The word, end, means after the FOLLOWING part, after every hindrance…afterward. You see, there is a time of following God.
That’s the time that most Christians don’t make it through. There must be a time of following God when you can’t see exactly what He has for you.
There is also a time when the enemy will send every hindrance your way. When he will do everything in his power to stop you from seeing the thing you have hoped for.
However, God says there is a time AFTER that…He calls it an expected end. It is in that time of an expected end that you receive the fullness of the thing you have hoped for. That is where our faith comes in.
It will take faith to begin the journey. It will take faith to believe that God has a good plan and purpose for you regardless of what you can see. And it will take faith to follow God all the way to the end.
God knows the plan and purpose He has for you, and He has the means and the ability to bring it to pass. God will not stop until you are complete, sound, safe, healthy, prosperous, and tranquil and experience peace from every war.
Wherever you are right now in your journey, know that there is an afterward. An after the following God part. An after the hindrance part…a time of expected end where you feast on your harvest. A time where you lay hold of those things hoped for. Your expected end is coming. It is already written and can’t be changed. If you continue to follow God you will see your expected end. The difficult times, the disappointing times, they are coming to an end. Trust Him and Trust in His expected end for you – it is a sure thing.
