For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
— Jeremiah 29:11
SOMETIMES, when we have failed in our Christian walk by disobeying God or yielding to fleshly impulses, we become disgusted with ourselves. We often then take those same feelings and project them onto God. “He must be angry and disgusted, too. In fact,” we reason, “He probably doesn’t even love me anymore.”
YOU MAY BE GOING THROUGH SOME UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCES, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GOD’S THOUGHTS TOWARD YOU ARE EVIL.
The people Jeremiah was writing to had real cause to believe that perhaps God was angry with them. They were living in captivity in Babylon as a result of their own sin. They had turned away from God and trusted in lies. Because they had chosen a path that would have ultimately led to their destruction, they were now going through a necessary time of chastisement. So you can imagine what they believed God was thinking about them.
But the prophet Jeremiah was assuring them that the thoughts of God toward His children are always thoughts of peace and not of evil.
This is true of you too. God loves you. God’s thoughts towards you are of peace and He’s using those circumstances to work out His eternal plan in you.
Have you failed Him today? He hasn’t failed you. His love is as sure as it was yesterday, as sure as it will be tomorrow. That’s a love you can count on.
Thank You, Father, that Your thoughts concerning us are those of peace and love. Help us to keep our eyes on eternity and not our circumstances.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.