“A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.” Proverbs 19:3
As hard as we try to control our environment or even the people around us, hurts happen in all shapes and sizes, and for a variety of reasons. Some are caused by our own hands and some by others, and then some just happen because our world is a mess. One true thing about our hurts - God didn’t cause them, He allows them - a big difference. The value of pain is it gets our attention. When life is good we don’t really need God, but a little pain can cause us to call out to Him. God delights to help us, because He prefers…
TO PROSPER US…
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord,’plans to prosper you and not to harm you…” Jeremiah 29:11a
The plans of God are His thoughts toward us, His purpose and the way in which He does His work in us. And these plans are to prosper us means far more than our finances. It is to be well, safe, at peace and whole. Prosperous people within God’s plans are completely complete.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” III John 2 (NKJV)
The key to a prosperous life is to be right with God. He wants us to prosper in all things, just as our souls do. But our spiritual life carries the most weight. Without a healthy relationship with God we will not find prosperity.
…AND POINT US HOME…
“…Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11b
The plans of God are not just for this life alone. God has thoughts and a purpose for us after here. He has placed eternity in our hearts to give us a sense of hope on earth in spite of our pains and struggles. And our hope for heaven is the place where we will be set free, once and for all, of pain. Heaven is where we prosper and are in health, as God originally designed for us. Here, on earth, we have hurts, and they should remind us we are not home… yet!
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…” Ecclesiastes 3:11
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