Daily strength - when nothing is clear

¹ 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. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord (Jeremiah 29 vs 11-14 NIV)

During the summer we spent a week up in Ballycastle. We knew the wee place we were staying in had a good view out to sea, looking to Rathlin Island and beyond to the west coast of Scotland.

I remember getting up the first morning we were there and stepping out the front door. I could see absolutely nothing! Now of course Rathlin Island was still there, and Scotland was still there. But I couldn’t see them, as a thick sea mist hung in the air.

There are moments in life when we have a real sense of ‘seeing’ where our lives are going. We look up, we look around, and we see a future all around us. There are other moments when to be honest it feels that we can see absolutely nothing. A thick mist surrounds us in every direction.

Jeremiah 29 vs 11 speaks to a people who could not see a future. God steadies these people with an assurance that a future for them is out there, and that it is good. Reading on down into vs 12-14 we are reminded that true confidence comes not from knowing ‘what’ is on the horizon, but in ‘who’ is on the horizon. Even in the mist the LORD is there and He is there to be found.

Prayer: Father I don’t know what lies in front of me. With all my heart I seek You. Thank You that your future for me is there, even when, for now, I can’t see it.