“’For I know the plans I have for you,” says the
Eternal, ‘plans for peace,
not evil, to give you a future and hope – never
forget that. At that time,
you will call out for Me, and I will hear. You
will pray, and I will listen.
You will look for Me intently, and you will find
Me. Yes, I will be found
by you,’ says the Eternal…” - Jeremiah 29: 11-13 (The Voice)
A prayer partner, another spiritual director and
retreat leader, sent me a hand-written note that I received yesterday. It included this scripture passage within
it. And although I have seen it and been
led to read this Old Testament passage so many times, it seems that each time I
read it, it has a new meaning for what is going on in my life at the time.
For
me right now, I am waiting and wondering about an important upcoming decision. The decision is not mine to make but someone
else’s, and it will impact me profoundly, either way. And yet I have placed what happens into the
Hands of my Creator, who I have learned does
listen. My Heavenly Parent – the One I
am learning to trust more deeply – always has the best in mind for me.
How
about you? Have you been in a similar
situation? How did you handle it? Did you think that you had to do it all
yourself? Did you believe that nothing
would get done unless you were in charge?
Did you lose hope in waiting, or did you find that prayer or reading
scripture helped you?
This
quote, and note from a friend, came at just the right time. Through it, I am reminded of the numerous
times that God has taken care of me over the years… No, my answers did not come right away.
Sometimes the answer did arrive sooner than later, and it was “no.” The bad times did not lift immediately. Nothing in life is easy. Pretty. Much. Nothing. But I hold on to this
promise that God made before the Babylonian-exiled Israelites. I too am not alone. The One who matters most in my life says, “You
pray. I’ll listen.” And, right now, that’s the finest thing my heart can hope
for. 💙
[Thanks, Lorie!]
