June 18: God's Plans Are for Good

 God's Plans Are for Good

Key Text: "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 (NKJV)

Sis. Hilreth Morgan 
Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church 

Ellen writes God leads His children by a way that they know not. but He does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him. God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others. "I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and notof evil." Jeremiah 29:11. The very trials that task our faith most severely and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are to lead us closer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet and experience the peace which He will give us in exchange. (PP 129)

One of the greatest challenges we face is trusting God's plan when we cannot see where the road leads. We often want God to reveal the destination before we commit to the journey. We want to know the why, the how, and the when. Yet faith does not operate that way. Faith calls us to move forward even when the path ahead seems uncertain.

Many of us have trusted people who promised us success. A supervisor told us, "Complete this task and the promotion is yours." A financial expert assured us that a certain investment would bring great returns. We followed those plans willingly because we believed there would be a reward at the end.

Then years later, we sometimes find ourselves asking, "Why did I trust them?"

How interesting that we can place such confidence in the plans of imperfect people, yet struggle to trust the perfect plans of an all knowing and powerful God.

The Bible reminds us:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is not believing because we can see the outcome. Faith is believing because we know the One who holds the outcome.

Throughout our journey, God has repeatedly shown us His love. He has revealed Himself as our Shepherd, our Rock, our Strong Tower, our Refuge, and our Best Friend.

Jesus reminds us:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11 (NKJV)

Before we were born, God knew us. Before our first breath, He understood our dreams, our gifts, our struggles, and our purpose. We were not an accident. We were not forgotten. We did not arrive unwanted.

Just as loving parents make plans for their children to flourish, our Heavenly Father has plans for our growth, our development, and ultimately our salvation.

Sometimes those plans include detours.

Sometimes they include valleys.

Sometimes they include seasons of waiting.

Yet every experience is being woven together by a God who sees the end from the beginning. The trials we face are not evidence that God has abandoned us. Often they are evidence that He is shaping us. The delays are not necessarily denials. The closed doors may be divine protection. The difficult seasons may be preparing us for blessings we are not yet ready to receive.

That is why our testimonies matter.

"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

We must speak about our scars and our journey. Tell someone about the detours that brought you closer to Christ. Share how God carried you through disappointments, heartbreaks, uncertainty, and fear.

Tell how He led you beside still waters.

Tell how He prepared a table before you in the presence of your enemies.

Tell how He walked with you through the valley of the shadow of death.

There are brothers and sisters struggling beside us every day. They need to hear that God is still faithful. They need to know that someone else has walked through darkness and discovered that Christ was there all along.

Do not keep silent about what God has done for you.

No one else can tell your story.

No one else can describe your journey with Christ.

Your testimony may become the very encouragement that helps someone hold on for one more day.

Let us choose to trust God's plans even when we cannot understand them. Let us follow Him even when the road seems uncertain. Let us move when He says move, wait when He says wait, and trust when we cannot see.

For the God who promised us a future and a hope has never failed and never will.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us enough to guide our lives according to Your perfect wisdom. Help us to trust Your plans when we cannot see the way forward. Strengthen our faith during trials, and help us share our testimonies so that others may be encouraged. Make us willing to go wherever You lead and to say with Isaiah, Here am I! Send me. In Jesus' name, Amen.