“For I know the plans that I have for you.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.
God permits no one to diminish or destroy His plans for your life.
My thoughts and comments today are about, “illusions.”
At one time or another, everyone will experience some measure of purposeful adversity. Relationships include the risk of unfair experiences. But life would not be much without friends. The price for being safe from disappointment and hurt would be to live lonely and less happy. Admittedly, a friend’s unkindness can be disillusioning. Now really, think about this; you can’t become disillusioned unless you have illusions to begin with. So, lose the illusion that you can somehow immunize yourself from others’ actions.
I have observed an underlying illusion that is more devastating than the disappointment you feel from mistreatment. Underlying such pain of disappointment is the unsettling fear that others hold some ability to negatively impact, or at least minimize, God’s will for you. That is an illusion with no basis in truth. His plans are grand and not to be missed. “‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good . . to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT. A future without hope would be disheartening; hope without a future would be pointless. God assures you of a wonderful future and a bright hope that no one can alter but you. No one changes that.
From my Dad, I learned a liberating truth, “Others can make decisions that appear to shortchange the will of God in your life. But God will not permit anyone to take what is good from your life, except to provide something better, even if He has to create something that did not previously exist.” God permits no one to diminish or destroy His plans for your life. But you must trust God with what has happened. Give it to God; walk free in grace and purpose.
When, “Your life is hidden with Christ in God,” you are God’s child (See Colossians 3:2 NIV); His hand upon you and His purposes for you govern how much others’ actions can affect you. Consider the Old Testament story of Joseph. See Genesis 37-50. Those who hurt Joseph most were cruel, but God brought Joseph to the right place at the right time for God’s purpose. Joseph, sold into slavery, tasted the bitter fruit of his brothers’ betrayal but God used their ill will to bring Joseph to Egypt to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham and ultimate purpose for Israel.
The butler promised never to forget Joseph’s kindness, and then straightway forgot for two years, but God used his forgetfulness to accommodate the exact moment Pharaoh would be most open to promoting Joseph to position and prominence. When finally Joseph stood face to face with his brothers, he found grace to say, “You meant it for evil – but God – meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20. In spite of others’ efforts to thwart God’s best, He still “works all things according to His own will.” Ephesians 1:11-12 NIV.
Today, my prayer for you is that your story has a divine moment when you can see and say, “but God . .“