Rest for the Soul
“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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT
We often hear Jeremiah 29:11 quoted in the context of knowing God has good things in store for our future. What we miss when we don’t read the passage in full context is that the prophet Jeremiah was warning the Israelites that they would be in captivity for seventy years. Immediately after breaking the bad news, there’s a “but,” and a promise.
“This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.” Jeremiah 29:10 NLT
It is only after this warning about a difficult season that we have the more commonly quoted “plans for hope and a future” verse. This verse was a reminder for the Israelites not to lose hope in the hard days—that God saw what was coming, and He would remain faithful through it all.
Notice in verses 12-13, the Lord reminds His people to pray because He listens. He tells them that if they look for Him wholeheartedly, they will find Him—in the good days and in the troublesome days leading up to their freedom.
We are quick to take to heart and embrace verse 11, that God has good plans for all of us, just like He did for the Israelites. And while it may not be as pleasant to embrace, we can be comforted in knowing that just like their hardship didn’t take Him by surprise, neither do the hard things we go through today take God by surprise. We can embrace the reminder to pray with confidence, knowing God hears us. We can leave this story reminded to look for God wholeheartedly, no matter what the circumstances are like around us, knowing we will always find Him with us.
When we find God in our troubles, we are comforted and strengthened in a supernatural way that we could never find on our own. He gives us unique wisdom and perspective, not only teaching us valuable life lessons within the hardship, but also showing us how to let go of the things we were never supposed to carry, too. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11,
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
We don’t obtain heavy burdens from restful seasons—yet Jesus promises us rest in the middle of the hard ones, showing us how to carry the load in such a way that it provides rest for our souls—something a vacation or a good night’s sleep could never do on its own! Rest for your soul—in the middle of a weary season? Only a miraculous God could do such a thing. And what a wonderful, miraculous God He is!
If you find yourself in a season of hardship, may I remind you that God is not surprised or shocked by what may be big news to you, and He already has a plan for how He will work it together for good. He is always near, listening to our prayers, and we can always find Him when we take the time to stop and look. When life makes us weary, may we take the time to seek and find the only One who has the ability to provide rest for our very souls. Truly, He is the One who can help us through anything!
