Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-known scripture in the Christian community. I have quoted it many times for encouragement. It says,
“‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ saith the Lord, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’”
This was the daily suggested verse in my Bible app this morning and I decided to read the full chapter. It was thought-provoking and I want to share it with you.
If you read the description of the chapter, it is a letter written by Jeremiah to all those who were carried away into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar. To summarize, Jeremiah was writing specifically to tell those about the false prophets that were turning the captives’ hearts against the Lord and His will. He wanted to convey to them the words the Lord had given to them.
The false prophets were saying to silence Jeremiah because he was encouraging the captives to settle down in their exile and live until the Lord commanded otherwise. This was contrary to what the other prophets were saying, which was to fight and figure a way out of captivity.
Just reading it, I had to agree that it made more sense to not concede to captivity, but to find a way to break free. I relate it to us this way: if you found yourself held against your will and being told that you must now become a part of another culture/place/territory, what would be your first reaction? Certainly, for me I would resist and probably do a lot of screaming. Place yourself here in your mind for today’s devotional. We are now captives of another nation. There are 2 types of advisors we can listen to: Shemaiah the Nehelamite or Jeremiah the prophet of Israel.
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The first one advises to hold on for deliverance, find ways to fight for our freedom while the second one states that the Lord has allowed this to happen for a reason and advises us to live our lives: buy a house and car, plant gardens, go shopping, inter-marry, etc.
Ponder this a moment… which one would be easier to listen to? Which advisor would you choose to follow?
I want you to remember that this really happened. People were captured and held against their will. They had to make a choice whose advice they believed and followed.
As I meditated, the Lord brought to my mind the many places I found myself in that were unwanted/unplanned by me. Many of these places I found embarrassing, humiliating, lonely and unfair.
The engine went out in our car, and we had no money to replace it or buy another vehicle. Someone gifted us $1500, and our pastor and my husband went car shopping. They came back with a gray 4-door car that apparently had seen better days. There were many scratches and dents, and the interior was stained. I went around opening all the doors (clearly it needed airing out), when I discovered the back driver door was bolted shut. Apparently, the last accident it was in, the door was unrepairable, so it got bolted into place. I was advised the speedometer was off and the gas gauge didn’t work. If I remember correctly, neither did the horn.
This was our car for 2 years. I had always had expectations of newer if not new vehicles for my future and here was the most hideous vehicle in my driveway. I had no choice but to drive it to go shopping and of all things, we showed up to church in it. For once, I didn’t mind parking far out and walking half a mile to the store.
I remember another season of my life where we lived in an old mobile home with expectations of renovating it. The next-door neighbors were not clean people, and we soon discovered they had a roach infestation which they shared with us. On top of leaky faucets and plywood floors I now had roach issues. I stopped inviting people over scared they would see a roach I had yet to kill. I was humiliated by the situation.
God brought to my mind the lonely time I experienced soon after we were married. Not only was I experiencing division in my immediate family, but we were also involved in a church split. My husband had told me that we shouldn’t choose any side since we had family and friends on both. When we tried to fellowship with side A, they thought we had chosen side B so were wary of us. When we went to side B’s church, they thought we were with side A and were cautious around us.
I felt like I had lost so much within a year’s time. Where there was once fellowshipping and friendships, it was now gossiping and quarrels.
I share this to hopefully relate to you. If you are not in an unwanted situation, you will eventually. I look back at all three of these memories and I must confess I rarely acted right. I used to scrunch down in the passenger seat of that car to not be seen and I chose certain times/days to go shopping to make sure I didn’t meet someone I knew. I was that embarrassed. I wasn’t thankful for much during those times. All I could see was living a life I didn’t want nor chose.
It would have been so easy to listen to others who would tell me I could have a better life; figure out, no matter what, and get myself out of these situations. And many times, I confess that was my attitude and belief.
I remember praying asking, “God, why am I here? Why do you keep putting me in horrible places and circumstances?” He spoke to my heart, “You haven’t learned the lessons yet.” I knelt by my bed, astounded I had gotten an answer. And then I said, “Then let me get it all. Let me learn it all this time around. I don’t want to be here anymore.”
God’s word to the captives was this:
Build ye houses and dwell in them;
And plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters;
And take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands,
That they may bear sons and daughters;
That ye may be increased there and not diminished.
And seek peace of the city whither I have caused you to be
carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the
peace thereof shall ye have peace.
It sounds like to me that God wanted them to not just survive captivity but thrive there. He had lessons and plans for them to prosper and increase their numbers. He wanted their minds and hearts to be centered on peace and not war.
My friend, whatever unwanted circumstance you find yourself in today or in the near future, choose the way to peace. Choose God’s way regardless of the popular opinion around you. Remember this, God has allowed this into your life for a reason. His thoughts are good and not evil toward you, and everything works together for your good because you are His child.
Find out the reason, learn the lessons He has for you, deepen your resolves and convictions, pursue truth and hold on to it….
The children of Israel found themselves captives because God wanted them to see their sins and repent of them. When God delivered them from the Babylonians, they were determined to follow God and Him alone.
Be encouraged, that God doesn’t lead you just to leave you.
He is always here guiding, teaching, purifying, cleansing us. We make it easy when we surrender ourselves or harder when we fight to get out and away from it all.
And while He is teaching, live. Clean your home regardless of if it’s a mansion or a camper. Wash your dishes whether they are fine China or plasticware. Make dinner, go shopping, visit others, invite others, plant, harvest, etc. Live your life and wait for the deliverance that is to come. Live your life with your heart open to learn and grow. And know, this too shall pass and when it does, you’ll find it has made you into a better person.
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