Just take Him at His word
This is what the Lord says, when seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. (NIV) Jeremiah 29:10-12
In the beginning of the chapter, the prophet Jeremiah sends a letter to the people of Israel who were in exile at Babylon. Even though it was not mentioned that the people of Israel were hoping to return home soon, it is just normal that as humans, they would like to return to their home land, Jerusalem, as soon as possible. But then, the message from the Lord said something else. It was an assurance of a better tomorrow-a hope for a freedom which will come after a period of seventy years.
Israel was the only nation in the Old Testament after the Lord’s heart, but that did not guarantee them a cozy life throughout their walk with God. The same applies to us as Christians. Being a Christian does not guarantee that life will be a bed of roses, instead, our father in heaven wants us to be true Christians and trust in Him no matter our circumstances. Whatever situations we go through, no matter how bad we think it is, all we have to know is that our maker does not delight in our sufferings but wants us to come out as Gold.
Let’s just take Him at His words because He will never abandon His own.
HYMN
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to take him at his word,
just to rest upon His promise,
just to know, thus saith the Lord”.
Chorus
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
how I’ve prov’d him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more.