Peace from the unexpected.
Jeremiah pens a letter to those taken in the first wave of captivity to Babylon @597 BC and consisted of roughly 10,000 people. His letter counters false prophets who were leading those in captivity astray. What Jeremiah writes here is often quoted today, but sometimes without its original context.
Jeremiah writes: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
This comes right after Jeremiah tells them it will be 70yrs before their captivity comes to an end. They were being told it would only be a couple of years, but the Lord had different plans. Instead of telling them to fight their way out, the Lord says: "seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace." Jer. 29:7
Their peace wasn't found in escaping captivity. The Lord told them to seek the good of the very place where they had been taken captive and to trust Him with their future. Their hope rested in the faithfulness of the Lord even while they remained in a difficult place.
Sometimes our peace isn't found in getting out of a circumstance, but in trusting the Lord in the midst of it. Jesus tells us, "Seek first the kingdom of God"
We see many examples in Scripture of people seeking the Lord above everything else and the fruit that comes from that decision.
What about us? Do we become so focused on getting the thing we want, or getting free from the thing we don't want, that we miss the opportunity to trust Jesus right where we are?
Jesus is our prize and refuge. He may have different plans for our lives than we would choose. Those plans may include seasons of affliction, yet we can trust Him.
Are you willing to press into Jesus rather than making your peace dependent upon getting out of a certain circumstance?
Lasting peace is only found in Jesus.
So seek Jesus!
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.