A future and a hope
Jeremiah wrote these words to exiles in Babylon, people far from home who had every reason to despair. God speaks not about escape, but about a future He has already planned.
Some seasons feel like waiting rooms, with no clear view of what comes next. Trust that the God who made these plans still holds the next chapter. Today, thank Him for one thing that points toward hope.
Lord, I do not always see what comes next. Thank You for the plans You hold for me. Give me patience in the waiting, and help me trust that Your plans are for my good. Amen.
שָׁלוֹם (shalom (shah-LOHM)). Often translated “peace,” but it means much more: wholeness, completeness, and well-being in every part of life. God's plans for His people are plans for shalom.
Jeremiah wrote this letter to the exiles taken to Babylon around 597 BC. Earlier in the chapter, the prophet tells them to build homes and seek the welfare of the city where they live, showing that God's plans include a life lived faithfully in exile.
The London Missionary Society was founded in London by Christians of various denominations who wanted to send the gospel abroad. Its early work included reaching the South Seas and southern Africa.