Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Did you know that Jeremiah 29:11 consistently ranks as the second most popular Bible verse in apps and websites that keep track of such statistics?

It’s interesting because this verse is part of a letter written to the Israelites who were in the beginning of a seventy-year exile in Babylon. If you don’t have that context, you can easily misunderstand the intention of this verse.

The central message is that while God’s plan for you is not immediate, He still has big plans for your life. Jeremiah is telling God’s people to get ready for a long time of waiting. But Jeremiah is bringing them some good news. Despite the exile, God wants good for them.

In the verses preceding the famous 29:11, Jeremiah points out what God wants them to do–keep living!

Here’s a brief overview of the plan for the Babylonian exile and what you can do while waiting on the Lord:

• Build houses and settle down. Plant roots and live your life.
• Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the fruits of the land.
• Marry and have sons and daughters. Keep doing the work God called His people to do. Go forth and have children.
• Do not decrease. Keep the line alive. Keep living your life–marry, have kids, build friendships.
• Seek peace and prosperity in Babylon. Wallowing in despair brings you nothing. Making the most of your situation brings you peace.
• Pray to the Lord. Keep your faith strong. Despite your circumstances, you are still a child of the Living God. He wants a relationship with you. And he wants good for you.
• Don’t let the prophets and diviners deceive you. Don’t fall for the lies that promise a quick escape. This exile time is a time to build faith and families.

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because he was often discouraged. He was often mistreated. He was often not believed. But he held on to hope. He held on to the promises of God. He continued to share the good news that God has a plan and you are part of it. That’s what he’s telling us in this encouraging, yet peculiar letter.

Here are five takeaways from the “plans for you” promise. 

1. We may not understand God’s timing, but we do know that God is trustworthy. He had plans for the Babylonian captivity and has plans for your life.
2. You are part of God’s master plan. He is redeeming you for an everlasting life with Him and all His children.
3. God thinks about YOU every day. The word “plans” actually translates better as “thoughts.” God thinks about you. He wired you with unique gifting and specific plans for you. He has a purpose in mind for your life. He opens specific doors, allows certain circumstances, and gives you many blessings.
4. Impatience is not the way out of exile. In times of waiting, we get frustrated and impatient. God is calling us to live and love where we are. He’s got this!
5. If God is for you, who can be against you? Romans 8:31 reflects Jeremiah’s statement of hope and purpose. We may have to wait for it, but the plans and hope of God are so worth it!