“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.
When Israel lay devastated in the face of a ruthless enemy that would rob them of all their glory and strip bare the very soul of God’s people, God issued his promise. While the destruction visited upon them was in response to their rebellion and sin, God’s punishment wasn’t punitive alone; it was also redemptive. In their destruction, God promised prosperity, hope, and a future. That future was in him, not their worthiness or deservedness. Just as a doctor must sometimes cause pain when he or she sets a broken bone so it may heal properly, God’s discipline is not capricious but curative and ultimately life-giving. If you are dealing with a hard time when God may be disciplining you, please remember this promise from Jeremiah 29, which is also reflected in Paul’s famous promise in Romans 8: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).