Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to five you hope and a future.'"

--Jeremiah 29:11

-The Individual

I believe that this verse can be one of the most misinterpreted verses in the Bible.  Now before you stop reading this post, let me explain.

You didn't hear a lot about the verse Jeremiah 29:11 until Soul Surfer came out.  This was a movie about Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm in a surfing accident and her faith was very strong in God.  She struggled, as many of us do, when we go through trailing times about our faith in God and if he is really there for us and why he would puts us through such things.  This verse was specifically quoted in the movie when she was trying to figure out her purpose.

Now back to why I think the verse is misused.  We solely pick out this verse for when we are going through a hard time.  Yes, I have done it too.  But if you take a look at the story behind the verse it is about the people of Jerusalem being carried and in exile in Babylon by King Nebuchadenezzer.  It was a letter sent to King Nebuchadenezzer that this verse is written in.  

The Lord in this letter is telling his people to not get discouraged about being in exile.  Settle in the land as if it was your own and not that they are exiled in.  He tells them to seek peace and prosperity because if the city prospers, so will they.  After seventy years in Bablyon God will fulfill the promise that he has made to his people.  So this verse isn't about the individual it is about the people.  He has put his people of Jerusalem in exile in Babylon for a reason.  He has a plan for them while they are there.  They might have not been very prosperous while living in Jerusalem, so he has sent them to Bablyon for a greater purpose.  

"'Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will

listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with 

all your heart.  I will be found in you,' declares the Lord, ' and will bring 

you back from captivity."

Jeremiah 29:12-14 (not all of 14)

I am not saying by any means not to quote this verse when you are going through hard times, but use this verse also for motivation, encouragement when you are going through good times as well.  We often only quote these verses when we feel as if God has left us.  We know he has a purpose for our lives, but we often forget to praise him when things are going well also.  God puts you in places in your life for a reason, the joy in that position might not last forever or where you are at might not last forever but at some point where you are or were brings you happiness.  Praise God for that because he has a purpose for you being there.  No matter the joy that where you are at in your life brings, never put it before God.

The Whole

Now I want to look at this verse regarding the whole since I just went through the individual.  There are so many things going on in this country right now.  

In regards to politics...(could get a little touchy for others)

There are many people who are unhappy with the presidency (Obama), and of course there are those that are, and how things have been handled, policies that have been put in place, etc.  If you look at these couple verses as a whole you see that God is talking about a group of people, not the individual.  He put the whole people into exile for 70, yes that's right seventy years.  But in that time he told the people to embrace the situation they were in and build from it, as we should.  I mean heck, we could go through more bad presidents and crisis with other countries (North Korea, Russian, Ukraine) before we end up with a good one or in a better situation.  So on that note, embrace the situation we as a country are in right now whether we like it or not, settle in it and develop as a people from it the best we can.