“So there is a hope for your future, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:17
If you’re like me you’re probably feeling pretty anxious right now. There is so much uncertainty around us today that we are left wondering what the future holds tomorrow, next week, month, year, and so much so that it causes us to worry. And worrying is not necessarily wrong in and of itself if it causes us to make reasonable plans and prepare us for the future. But human worrying often has to do with those things that are out of our control and as humans, let’s face it, we’re often “control freaks” as the term goes. What will the corona virus bring next, will there be more division in our society and government, will schools and churches open, what will happen with the economy, is my employment secure? The list goes on and on and on and. For fallen humans there’s never an end to reasons given for worrying and mostly because we don’t know what to expect exactly, we don’t know what the future holds, the future is not certain!
Today’s verse from the prophet Jeremiah was spoken to God’s people 2,600 years ago while they were in exile and had far more worries than we have today. They were rightfully anxious about what the future would hold. They too felt uncertain about tomorrow. And so our gracious God gives them certainty that their future has hope. God doesn’t go into detail about what events will transpire, but He does give the big picture outcome, and it’s one of certain hope for the future.
When little else seems to comfort, and we are weighted down by fears that cause us to be anxious and to worry, we then return to this verse from Jeremiah and our reminded that we have hope. The reason for this certain hope is because our God holds the future. He knows what will happen in the next minute, hour, day, week, month, year, century, and millennium. He knows the future and has promised us hope for it! Praise God!
I love how the lyrics of the song, “Because He Lives” expresses this truth…
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!
Because He lives, all fear is gone!
Because I know He hold the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian