Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I first remember this verse when I was doing a bible study back when Zane was just about a year old. I think I had to memorize it. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the verse at that time.

Several years later when Andy lost his job, I was in a small group with Women, Inc. at church (a Women's fellowship bible study our church offers) and when they found out that Andy had lost his job, the women in my small group pooled together and got some gift cards and money and gave it to me along with a card. Inside the card was a sheet of paper with the above verse on it along with many other verses.

Ever since that time, this verse has come up repeatedly. It seems to show up several times within a short period of time whenever I am feeling a little bit of anxiety about how we are going to make ends meet. I have faith that God will provide, but there are still times that I have a little bit of anxiety, and I feel reassured when I see this verse pop up.

Last week in church we had a time of sharing. People were sharing verses that had an impact on their lives in the past week. I have a hard time sharing. I am apprehensive and not good at public speaking, so I avoid it as much as possible. I was feeling prompted to share my verse, but I failed to do it. The time of sharing was over and we began to sing a song. One of the verses in the song contained a paraphrase of Jeremiah 29:11. The next day I was reading a book and I came across the verse again. I believe in the same week, I had a third time that I came across the verse.

We've been in a slow period for Andy's work since it's winter and work is slow. I have always hoped that Andy could earn enough during the summer months that we would be ahead and have money in savings so that we would be okay during the winter months. We do somehow have enough to pay the bills, but we are letting some things go on our credit card, and instead of having savings we are going to end up catching up when work picks up again. Of course, I don't take for granted that God will provide. I try not to abuse the resources He has given me. But I do feel reassured that He will provide for us. We'll get through this like we have for the past several years. God has a plan for us. I don't know exactly what He has in plans for us, but I trust that we'll never be in need as long as we continue to put our trust in Him.