What I want to zero in on this morning, in those passages, is the truth and promise that God knows what we need. Jeremiah 29:11 is a very popular and often quoted scripture that promises us that God has plans of hope and prosper for us. But what I love about verses 12-14 that follow is that God is saying "Ok, so since I know your life's plans and those plans are for hope and for you to prosper, then come to me and I'll listen. Seek me with all your heart and you will find me. And when you do that, I'll guide you on the path I have for you."
What I think we miss here is when we hang on the promise that God has plans for us, yet forget the following verses where we need to seek Him and find Him and He'll guide us in those plans.
Think about those times in your life where you need God's provision. I've often told God that if I could just get a post-it floated down from Heaven, with some direction, it'd be SUPER helpful. :) While we won't get a post-it from Heaven, we do have direct communication through prayer and God's word. He speaks EVERY TIME we study scripture and EVERY TIME we pray. Remember, the answers might not always be what you're hoping for, but He still speaks! Your job is to ask.
I have two questions to end on today:
1) Do you trust God with your every need? The verses we read today show us that He is to be trusted and is waiting to give us the guidance we need - all we need is ask. Are you asking?
2) Do you need to be found by God? Are you feeling alone, confused, or helpless? Let these passages be your encouragement today and remind you that God knows what your future looks like. He knows what you need. He has it all planned out. You are NOT alone. He is waiting for you to reach out to Him and ask for His help, His guidance, His wisdom.
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8