Jeremiah 29:11 has literally helped me maintain my sanity over the past couple of months and just throughout various seasons of life. This verse answers any questions that I may have about my life and it’s purpose. It may not be as specific as I may WANT it to be…but it’s very clear. It says that God has a plan for me…a good plan at that.
Does it say exactly what that plan is? Nope. Does it say that I won’t encounter trials? Nope.
Let’s break down exactly what it DOES say. First, it says that God knows the plans that he has for me. So although I may find myself confused about what His plan is, God is definitely not confused about it. He goes even further to explain what this plan is and what it isn’t. He says that his plan is to prosper me and NOT to cause me harm. Let’s start with the word prosper. Many people like to shy away from this word because when they think about prosper, their minds automatically shift to money (by the way, there isn’t anything wrong with having money). So…what exactly does it mean to prosper?It simply means to be successful. I truly believe that God wants you to prosper or be successful in ALL aspects of life. 
This plan that God has for me is not to harm me. What I take from that is, any harm that I’ve encountered thus far didn’t come from God. He doesn’t want to harm me. I do believe that some things must happen in order for me to fulfill God’s purpose for my life but God’s PLAN isn’t to harm me.
The last part says God’s plan will provide hope as well as a future. Hope means to expect with confidence. I think that most of us need hope every day of our lives. Some days I need more hope than others. To be honest, I need more hope right now after going through what I’ve gone through with infertility and suffering a miscarriage and even in dealing with the murder of my baby sister.
The notes in the Life Application Study Bible says the following about Jeremiah 29:11: God is that kind of leader. He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope. As long as God, who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope. Joyce Meyer has a pretty unique definition of hope. She defines it as “the happy anticipation of good things”. That definition literally makes me smile. I mean, who doesn’t want to happily anticipate GOOD THINGS?
I think that all of these statements combined are enough to keep me moving forward during this season of my life. I am going to happily anticipate the good things in life…because I KNOW they’re coming. God said so.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Kristen D. Johnson
