Jeremiah 29:11
11 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.”
This oft-quoted verse is couched within a letter that Jeremiah sent to the remaining elders of the Israelite exiles, telling them what he had heard from God. The exiles by this time were disheartened and felt abandoned by God, and needed to hear from Him again, needed to feel His presence, even if they were still a little spiritually rebellious.
God had indeed used the Babylonian exile period as a way to teach the Israelites, but it was not for an evil purpose–it was to help them remember that they needed to depend on him. They had been far too proud and far too headstrong before, and the period of exile taught them humility. Thus, this letter from Jeremiah carries a message of reconciliation from God, including this verse. God wants to reassure the Israelites that He has great plans for them, which are for their best interests.
In fact, God has always worked for their best interests, even if the Israelites have not always understood it. Like children rebelling against a parent, the Israelites have been wayward and nearly untenable, worshipping any “god” but God, doing anything but what God has asked them to do. So, much like a parent who disciplines to teach their children respectful behavior, God has disciplined the Israelites with this time of exile, to teach them that His blessing is something they should rejoice in, not spurn. This discipline does not come from a place of hate and anger, but a place of love and nurturing–no matter how much it hurts at the time.
It’s much the same way with us. God does not do evil things in our lives or cause evil things to happen, but He uses trials and problems to help us develop strength and faith. This ultimately helps us grow into the people He created us to be. Nothing God does is for harming us; even the harshest trials we face can end up showing us how strong God’s love is for us. During my horrible failure of a teaching career, for instance, I felt very distant from God, so overwhelmed…but He never let me die, never let me really hurt myself or anyone else. In fact, I found myself reaching for God in those darkest of days, and I found Him there, with a plan ready to lift me from pain. God wants to do the same for all of us, whenever we decide we’re ready to listen.