God Has Good Plans For Us

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

 We celebrated a special graduation last weekend. In this small college ceremony, it took over an hour for the names of the graduates to be read and the diplomas to be presented. Even though I only knew one of them, I loved watching each face as the graduates stepped down from the stage. Literally and figuratively, they were looking ahead with smiles of pride and relief and hope.

Yet it is scary, this step into life after school. “What are you going to do next?” is the question asked by most. And sometimes we don’t know.

Lots of times we don’t know. But God does. This verse is one I have leaned on throughout my life. Not just after graduation. Even now as I am 25+ years into a career and marriage and parenting. Even now after God has proven faithful time after time. I still get scared when I don’t know what is next.

But we don’t have to be scared.

God gave His people this promise when they were captives. He knew they were discouraged and clinging to false hope, listening to voices that were not His. But in the middle of this confusing and difficult time, God gave them what they needed. He brought peace. He reassured them that He had a solid plan to free them, to restore them, to take care of them.

He still does this today. Through our waiting, our rejections, our changes, and our struggles, God has a plan. He is always lovingly, faithfully bringing good.

Hold on to Jesus~Keep looking for Him. Keep listening for His voice over all the others. And read on in Jeremiah. Verses 12-14: In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. I will be found by you, says the Lord…”  Whether you are just graduating or just retiring or somewhere in between, He has a plan for your life. A really good one.