Plans - Amanda Fernandez

Hope Contributor: Amanda Fernandez

I want to start this message by quoting a verse I’m sure you all know; “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.” - Jeremiah 29:11. I feel as though this verse is often the first verse we’re introduced to. I’ve seen it on shirts, journals, planners, and billboards. Regardless of where someone is on their journey with God, this verse will come up. It’s meant to be inspirational, reminding everyone that despite what may be going on in the world, God knows all and has your happy end already planned.

In such uncertain and challenging times, I am not bringing this verse to your attention just because it’s inspirational. This verse has followed me throughout my adult life (Which isn’t as impressive as it sounds, seeing as I am only 25); my mom would always remind me of that whenever anything went wrong and she would remind me of it whenever something went right. Whenever we saw it on a billboard or a book, we would always knowingly look at one another like it was an inside joke between us.

I think the reason for its overuse in mainstream media is solely based on the last part. It’s great to know that we can enter each new day knowing we can be hopeful for the next one, that our future is indeed bright. It’s uplifting but that’s not the most important part of that line; First, as someone who overthinks things a lot, “For I know the plans I have for you,” is such a relief to me. He has made plans. He has accommodated me within his world. Whether I feel out of place or not is irrelevant; He has made my place and set my path and all I have to do is follow it. It’s not always easy to follow it but the fact that the path is made clear and that He will always steer me in the direction I need to be in is amazing. It brings me peace and makes me feel more secure about my standing in this world. I am exactly where I need to be at this point and time, nothing more and nothing less because He ordered my footsteps here. Because I followed (and stumbled at times, as we all do) and He led me here.

Then we have; “plans to prosper you,” This one is even better than the last. Hope and purpose are wonderful things to have but I believe the declaration that His plans are prosperous to us and his Kingdom as well as the assurance from God that no harm will befall us is even better. To have a happy life is one thing, but can we truly have a happy life if we do not have a purpose? What are we meant to do? There are many things that set humans apart from animals but I think one of the most noticeable ones is our ability to have a specific purpose within God’s kingdom. We can work for His glory, we can advocate, sing, create, and speak to spread His word, to give testimony, to inspire ourselves and those around us to be better people. To prosper can obviously mean to actually live prosperously, to live well with family and personal wealth, but I also feel that being led to our purpose in life is really the only way we can live well. It is how we reach fulfillment; not through personal gains or empty accolades, but through deeds that reflect Jesus Christ to everyone we meet.

“Not to harm you” I always liked this part because even at my young age, I am very aware that life is hard. People can fail you, society can make you doubt yourself, your uniqueness can be made out to be limitations; that’s unfortunately how life can be at times. Just as it can be immensely good it can be difficult too. But the one thing I’ve never really worried about was that the bad would come from God. Of all the things I do waste time worrying about, I try to make sure not one second of that time is spent on thinking I’m being punished for every time I’ve ever made a mistake. Because that’s not the kind of God we serve. The moments in life where things have seemed frightening or frustrating to me personally, I learned that God is not the cause of my reaction and my emotions, He is the solution.

We can speculate on why troubling things happen all day long and never come up with a satisfying answer; because I don’t believe that’s the answer we should be seeking. God is always the answer to any of our concerns. Now, more than ever, we collectively have to understand the power of accepting our situations and our problems as just that; an obstacle on the path He’s calling us to follow. Searching for His answer is always more productive and conducive to his spirit than stopping on the path to simply sit in our confusion with a question on our lips.