What is God’s plan for your life? We make plans but aren’t sure if they are God’s plans. What does the Bible say about making plans?
What does the Bible say about God’s plan?
A common verse that people quote about God’s plan for your life is found in Jeremiah.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
While this verse is often quoted, people don’t know the context in which it was written.
Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote these words after King Nebuchadnezzar seized Jerusalem and took captives from Judah back to Babylon. The people were exiled there and going to be there for 70 years.
What discouragement! To be held in captivity for 70 years? Yet God had plans for them. He sent them instructions on living and some encouraging words for the future. This verse in Jeremiah 29 was the encouraging words he sent.
Even though these words were given to God’s people over 2400 years ago, they are an encouragement to us today. But what do they mean?
What does Jeremiah 29:11 mean?
These words in Hebrew can be broken down to help provide meaning.
- Plans are a means or a purpose for us.
- Welfare, in this instance, means peace.
- The future means it is after the last part or ending.
- Hope is an expectation.
God had plans or a purpose for Judah being in Babylon for this time period. In studying the book of Daniel recently, I learned that they were in Babylon for a period of 70 years because they had not given the land a Sabbath rest for over 490 years. According to the Old Testament law, they were to give the land a rest every seven years from being plowed and crops grown. In that time frame, 70 sabbath rest years were missed. That accounted for why they would be there for that length of time. (Besides Jeremiah 29:1-14, see 2 Chronicles 36:20-23 and Leviticus 25:1-7 ESV for further study.)
His plans involved peace and not evil. However, they needed to finish their time there. They wouldn’t have to stay there forever. After 70 years, they would be able to go back to Jerusalem. This hope gave them something to expect or look forward to.
It is hard not knowing when something will end. A message or word of encouragement gives you hope that you won’t have to deal with the current state forever.
God’s Plan – A real-life example
Almost ten years ago, this verse above, Jeremiah 29:11, encouraged my husband, Dave. He had been laid off from his job. This verse was given to him in a card to encourage him.
At the time, he thought he’d be able to find a job quickly. He did not and was in a “woe is me” stage. A song on the radio reminded him he was relying on himself instead of God. Dave needed to be quiet and hear God’s voice. God didn’t promise him a dream job but that He would take care of us.
God took care of us in many ways. He didn’t do miraculous things like parting the Red Sea, but His provision came in little ways.
God’s plan for your life can include little things
During this time of waiting, God used pieces of paper to show how He cared for us in His Plan.
- A check in the mail from his mom that we weren’t expecting to pay for a truck repair.
- Coupons – the old paper ones you clipped out from ads! There were times when Dave went to the grocery store, and almost everything on the list was a buy one – get one or ten for $10. God was saving us money and decreasing our grocery bills!
- A junk mail ad for a $50 drain cleaning. Our drains were slow, and the going rate at the time was a minimum of $100 for a repair.
- Cards in the mail or emails from friends to check in and see how he was doing.
God’s Plan: No Calendars Included
There wasn’t a timeframe for when he’d get a new job. Dave was out of work for six months. He kept reading this verse to encourage him and give him hope. God had a plan, and He would provide for us in the meantime.
Dear friend, I hope this encourages you today. Whatever you are going through, there is an end to it. There is hope on the other side. God will provide for you. He has a plan for you and will give you a future and hope!
In the meantime, keep trusting God that He will continue carrying out His plan for your life!
God’s Plan for your Life: Reflection Thoughts
- How does the promise in Jeremiah 29:11 encourage you? List out the encouragements now.
- What plan or purpose does God have for you now? If you aren’t sure, spend some time in prayer with God about that. During this time of waiting, it is time to trust Him with the timing. He has this, and you are not forgotten during this time!
- Think of a time when something changed your life, and list the ways God provided for you. Spend time thanking Him for providing for you.
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Resource Library
As always, there are Bible verse cards, bookmarks, and the READ study method for you to download –all for free!
This is another great post! I can get so wrapped up in my plans, I forget to give these plans over to God. Trusting him is the only way to plan your life.
Aw, thanks, Christy! Yes, TRUST is the name of the game, and some days I am so bad at it. It has been something I have worked on a lot in the last year!
Such a great resource. I’ve learned that if I start walking and being faithful in what I do know, God will reveal the rest! Awesome post and I will gladly share it.
Thanks, Chyna! You are so right – it is all about TRUSTING Him. Thanks for sharing too!
(Sorry for the delay in replying –you got caught in my spam filter!)
Brilliant post, thank u! I write now and accept that as God’s plan, as I was diagnisosed with Neurocardiogenic syncope syncope last year. I thought the plans I had, were different, turns out, he wanted me to use it for His glory and write, I’m now almost finishing my 1st book. Xx
Thank you, Lauren! I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. However, I am glad to hear that God is using that for His Glory! My job change this last year was definitely a change of plans for me but God wanted me to write instead. I am barely starting my book. I will be excited to hear about your book! Keep me posted!
Great post, Cindy. You’re so right. This verse is frequently taken out of context. But I am so thankful that God has a plan for us. Sometimes it’s hard to see, especially in today’s climate. But He sees it all, knows it all. We just need to trust that all plans are done His way and in His time.
Thanks, Wendy. Yes, me too! Trusting is the hard part but we need to keep our eyes on Him (not the wind and the waves!)to keep from falling down!