Jeremiah 29:11 says God wants to “give us a future and a hope (i.e. an expected end – KJV)”. 🤔💭 Trying to make sense of this I noticed that NKJV/NLT equate KJV’s “expected end” with “a future and a hope”. But why, what could these mean?
There is surely an end i.e. a future that God has planned for us, but God gives it to us through hope. The future and hope come hand in hand, like the fist to a glove. It is an end that we actively expect, a future that we hope towards. God gives this hope to us. He puts visions of the future He desires for us into our heart and wants us to hope, long and work towards it. This is corroborated in Phillipians 2:13, which tells us that when we walk with God, the desires of our heart and our resulting actions are of Him. Faith’s definition in itself is substantiated in hope (Heb 11:1).
- Basically, hoping is a real life and heart activity that God desires of His children. It shows what the true source of our confidence is – God or man. It is fundamental to how He works in our lives. He wants us to believe and confidently ask for the seemingly impossible. Hoping looks foolish to other people because they have not received the revelation that we have. This hope we must cherish no matter how long or what it takes because God controls the time of our lives. Just look at the lives of Joseph/David and the time that passed between the revelation and the manifestation (read my testimonies too). God gave them a revelation for an appointed time, a revelation that spoke of the end and did not prove false. Though it lingered, they waited for it and it certainly came to pass. (Habakkuk 2:2-3). As it was then and is now, hope deferred makes the heart sick but when fulfilled, it is a tree of life (Prov. 13:12).
- When we choose to trust in God to bring to pass the seemingly impossible, it becomes a testimony to the world of God’s existence, His saving grace and mercy. Many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord (Ps 40:4). But we must allow ourselves go through the process of waiting on God. Joseph’s experience became a tree of life to all of Egypt, all the world and all His family. He said in Gen 50:20 – “you intended to harm me but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”.
- Many of us prefer not to hope so that we don’t get disappointed, or to preserve some grand image of God in our mind. We just can’t bring ourselves to trusting God to bring something to pass. But this thinking is wrong as we MUST learn how to hope in God if we are to truly fulfil His plans for us. In fact, without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6).
- To produce much fruit, a corn of wheat must first fall into the ground and die, abiding alone (John 12:24). No one wants to abide alone. No one wants to go through a painful experience. But this is in God’s design for ALL His true children. This is the Hope journey. Even Jesus asked for the cup to pass away if possible; but in God’s design, Jesus had to die first i.e. go through a painful experience first before yielding plentiful fruit – the saving of all lives (similar to Joseph!). 🙌🏾
In summary
Hoping, waiting, trusting and faithing are all core to God’s plan for each of our lives, to bring us to an expected end. The result is always sure – a tree of life. 🌴 He does so much in our life in this dark and lonely place that nothing else could possibly have achieved the same result. So count it all joy and hope away! Do not waiver. Hope big! God is able. Subject your desires to His and stand on His promises. Ask for the vision. After He gives you the vision, ask Him for wisdom on what you should do. Actively work towards and prepare yourself for it. Don’t be idle because the vision hasn’t come to pass but make the best of the opportunities that are nearest at hand to you…with a spirit of excellence and diligence, work as unto the Lord even in the little things. Abide in His word and let His words abide in you. His strength will be made perfect in your weakness.
When anxiety attacks your heart, 1) speak God’s promises to your situation for His words are spirit and life (John 6:63), living and active (Hebrews 4:12); 2) sing praises to God (2 Chr 20:22-24); 3) remember that He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5) and He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8); 4) remember the wonderful things He’s done for you in past times and prayers that were answered; 5) go out of your way to help someone else; and finally, 6) go to God in prayer and supplications (the act of asking a god or someone who is in a position of power for something in a humble way) and His peace will guard your heart and mind (Phill 4:6-7).
Don’t worry about the future but take things one day at a time. Tomorrow is not guaranteed (NB: that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan for the future or be an unfaithful steward). What you have is today. Today, you must go to God at the beginning of the day and ask for His mercies which are new every morning (Lam 3:22-23) and make the best use of today. Yesterday’s mercies and blessings were for yesterday. Today, God is ready to and is already doing a new and seemingly impossible thing even if you don’t see it yet (Is 43:18-19). Tomorrow will take care of itself (Matt 6:34). In an instant, God can turn everything around once He says the time is right (Gal 6:9). Yours is to have faith, keep hoping and keep doing. I know it’s not easy but you’ve got this! 💪🏾😎🙅🏾♂️
The Langford Files 