Scripture: “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.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Observation: This chapter of Jeremiah details the information the prophet sent to those in captivity. He explains that the Lord has instructed the captives to establish their homes and families while in Babylon as their time there will be 70 years. He goes on to reassure them that God has a plan for their lives, and He will bring it to pass in His time.
Application: Once I get into a book, I’m one of those readers who often flips to the last chapter to read how the story ends. I don’t like not knowing what’s going to happen! I want to be assured that the tale has a happy ending, or more correctly, I want to know it ends the way I want it to end. Sometimes people feel the same way about life.
Without knowing how certain situations will culminate often causes increased worry and anxiety in many people. While some can “go with the flow”, others feel an intense need to manipulate circumstances to influence the desired results. Trusting God for the outcomes never enters into the equation for those who take matters into their own hands. They feel a need to be in control of life, to manage its ups and downs and maneuver all factors to generate the coveted resolution. Trusting in ourselves for matters that belong in God’s hands is never wise.
The Bible has many examples of individuals who trusted God even when they could not read the last page of their story. For example, when God told Abraham (Abram) to leave his home for a new land, He didn’t lay out the plan He had for Abraham, He simply told him to pack up and move. Genesis 12:4 records Abraham’s response, “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him…”
Another example is Mary, the mother of Jesus. When she received the incredible message from the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of God’s Son, she didn’t conceive a plan to convince Joseph, her family, or friends of what she had been told to protect her reputation, instead, she trusted God. Luke 1:38 tells Mary’s response, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
When we place our complete trust in God, we don’t need to see the “big picture”. We simply choose to live day-by-day, sometimes step-by-step, with the faith that the Lord will lead us, protect us, deliver us, etc., and accomplish His perfect will for our lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 speaks of God when it states, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” Trusting God for all things takes time to become part of our normal response to any situation. To grow trust, we must increase our faith. To grow faith, we must apply ourselves to prayer, Bible study, and quiet time with God as He speaks to us through His Word. As we make time in 2026 to spend time with One who loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and sacrificed Himself to have a forever relationship with us (Galatians 2:20), our trust in Him will also grow. Wouldn’t you agree that spending more quality time with God would be a great resolution for the new year?
Prayer: Dearest Father in heaven, God of all wisdom, Living Word, how great is Your faithfulness! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being my Shepherd, leading me daily to those green pastures and still waters, and to the paths of righteousness. Thank You for so gently correcting me when I make wrong choices and restoring my soul! I am so blessed to be Your child! Help me to trust You more each day; grow my faith through Your Word. I praise You for Your goodness to me, but even more for just who You are! In Jesus’ precious and most holy name, I pray. Amen.
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
(from “Trusting Jesus” by Edgar Page)
**********
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20