In Captivity, But Still His Plans

Scripture:  Jeremiah 29: 10-14 - For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 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. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

The four seasons of the year bring changes in temperature, weather and the length of daylight. Yet, some regions don’t experience all seasons. Many times we change our environment looking for the ultimate place to settle down and reestablish ourselves and yet still find restlessness.  The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a good future.”
God told His people that they would go into Babylonian captivity because of their disobedience and rebellion. Yet, while in captivity they were to still seek the peace of the city, build houses, plant gardens and build families. It would be in this place that God had planted them that they would begin again to seek Him, pray to Him, and it would be from there that they would find Him.

When God has caused you to be carried away into captivity and you have no idea as to how long this test will last, His plans of chastening is always for your growth and His glory (Heb.12:11). The Lord said that He would bring them back to the place He caused them to leave.  In your captivity, may you reflect, reckon, and rectify, because He has promised to restore, renew, and redeem that which will give Him glory.  Yes, call upon Him, go and pray to Him and He will listen when we seek Him with all our heart.

Prayer:  Father, when I don’t obey Your will and I must be chastened, thank You that it will always be a chastening of love to give me a future and a hope.

(Sis. Cheryl Torain)