Hope, Honesty, and Finding God When Life Gets Messy
God Has a Good Plan, Even When Life Gets Tough
Sometimes, life doesn’t make sense. We face challenges, disappointments, or times when it feels like everything is against us. In the Bible, God tells us, “I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future.” He isn’t promising a life that’s always easy, but He is promising that His plan is always for our good—even when we can’t see it.
What If We Knew God’s Plan?
Imagine if everyone could see the good future God has in mind for them. Maybe we’d worry less or trust more. But faith means believing even when we can’t see the whole picture. God’s promise is that if we seek Him with our whole heart—being honest and real in our prayers—He will listen. He’ll be there for us, even if things aren’t perfect right now.
Being Careful Who We Listen To
The passage also warns us to be careful about who we trust. There are always people who will tell us what we want to hear, but that doesn’t mean it’s what God is saying. Sometimes people make up ideas and call them “God’s word,” but only God knows the real plan. So, we need to check what we hear against what God actually says.
God’s Timing and Promises
Back in Jeremiah’s time, God promised to bring His people back from exile, but it wouldn’t happen right away—it would take seventy years. This shows that God’s timing might be different from ours, but He’s never uncertain. We might not always understand why things happen, but God is always working for our good, even when it doesn’t look like it on the surface.
Faith Over Fear
God doesn’t give us what our fears expect, or what our imaginations dream up, but what our faith hopes for—the best outcome He has in mind. And when we feel a strong urge to pray, it’s a sign that God is inviting us closer, ready to show us mercy and love.
Don’t Ignore God’s Call
Finally, the passage reminds us not to ignore God when He speaks to us. Listening for God, seeking Him with honesty, and trusting His promises is the way to real hope and a future.
If we all tried to live with that kind of trust and openness to God’s plan, maybe the world would be a kinder, more hopeful place.
Minister A Francine Green
December 2025
afrancinegreen.com 