Squaring the promises and reality

“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

Anyone who reads the Bible will learn that God has made special promises to His own, no matter when or where they live. To Jacob, God said, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15).

When Joshua took over the leadership of the Israelites, God reaffirmed the promise He made to Moses, saying, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses” (Joshua 3:7).

Even when Israel turned its back on God, the faithful were assured of God’s presence and help. At least six times God repeated His promise to be with Jeremiah, who was periodically thrown into prison, beaten and treated as an outcast. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “ ‘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.’ ”

The New Testament echoes this statement, affirming that Jesus will never leave or forsake His own. Then why did Peter and Paul suffer so? Paul’s suffering included being shipwrecked, beaten with rods and whipped. Yet he believed that God allowed evil in the world that still accomplished His purpose. To the Philippians, he wrote from prison, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

Evil in our world doesn’t negate the promises God has made to His children. You can trust Him and realize nothing can destroy His promises to you.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:3-6