A Sealed Future
The book of Jeremiah tells the story of how God used him to share a message with the Israelites—and not a pleasant one. It was a message that they would lose everything and be taken into exile by the Babylonians. At one point, Jeremiah was arrested and imprisoned for telling the truth. The officials hated him so much that they eventually threw him into the bottom of a cistern, where he began to sink into what could have been a slow death in the thick mud—had he not been rescued by the king’s orders (Jeremiah 38).
While the king didn’t like Jeremiah or his message, he still recognized that Jeremiah’s words were from God and would often seek his counsel. So he ordered that Jeremiah be pulled out of the cistern and placed back in a prison cell. What a difficult journey this must have been for Jeremiah.
Early in his imprisonment, God told Jeremiah to buy a field in the land of Benjamin from his cousin. Shortly after hearing from God, his cousin came to visit him in prison—just as the Lord had said. Jeremiah knew he had heard from God, so he obeyed and bought the field. It made no sense to buy property in a land that was about to be completely lost. Yet in the middle of all the darkness, God gave Jeremiah another message—a message of hope that His people would one day return home.
Jeremiah had the sealed deed placed into a pottery jar to preserve it for a long time, symbolizing that the Israelites would one day come back to their land. Then he prayed:
“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”
Jeremiah 32:17 NLT
Jeremiah lived through one of the hardest seasons in Israel’s history—a time when the nation had to face the consequences of its rebellion and the failures of its leaders. His life wasn’t easy, and his message wasn’t always hopeful. Still, when faced with impossible circumstances, God gave him a promise of restoration and hope for the future.
Maybe you’re walking through a dark time right now. Maybe Jeremiah’s story resonates with you as you face the fallout of choices that weren’t your own but have deeply affected your life. When we’re in the middle of hard circumstances beyond our control, it can be so difficult to see that God is still working—and even harder to believe that He is still good.
But when we surrender our lives to Him, He invites us into the ultimate story of promise and hope—a story that ends with us spending eternity with Him, where He wipes every tear from our eyes. In the meantime, while we’re still in the middle, He dares us to live like He’s already made it good—because He has. Death and the grave were overcome when Jesus died on the cross, and now all we’re waiting for is His glorious return.
But waiting doesn’t mean standing still. Just as Jeremiah bought a field as an act of faith in God’s promise, we too must put our faith into action. It means living with hope and joy even when things feel dark and heavy. It means sharing the good news with everyone who will listen—until Jesus returns.
What actions can you take today to show that you truly believe God is in your future, working all things for good?
Let’s pray.
God, thank You for the stories of heroes in the faith like Jeremiah, who showed great faith even in dark times. Help us to live with that same trust—to act according to our belief that You’re already in the future, working all things for our good. Free us from worry and fear, and fill us with faith and confidence. Thank You for sending Jesus, so that we have a future with You. Amen.
