While reflecting on my past, I began to feel discouraged. For I thought about all of the negative things that were said about me, which caused me much pain throughout my life. But then I felt the urge to open my Bible, and this is what I saw:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

God’s message to me was this: Don’t let the things of the past hurt you in the present. It doesn’t matter what people thought about you then. All that matters is what I think about you. And I’m telling you that I have good thoughts toward you, to give you a future and a hope.

What a refreshing message! And just as God spoke these words to me, He speaks these words to you too. That’s right; God has thoughts of peace toward you; He wants to give you a future and a hope. Perhaps there were people who tried to put you down in the past with negative thoughts or maybe you’re dealing with people like that right now. Whatever the case may be, don’t let their negativity poison your mind. For you’re not what they think you are; rather, you’re loved by God. And that’s all that really matters.

Listen, as long as we continue to live in a sinful world, insensitive people will try to creep into our lives, to try to rob us of our dreams and leave us feeling hopeless and helpless. Yet God isn’t like that at all. He doesn’t want to put you down; rather, He wants to lift you up. In other words, He wants to give you a future and a hope. For He loves you, and just simply wants to be loved by you.

But there’s more to this message! The LORD goes on to say the following words:

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” – Jeremiah 29:12 KJV

Indeed, the world is a big place; sometimes it could seem like you’re just another face in the crowd, too insignificant to acknowledge or listen to. Well, there may be some who might look at you like that, but that’s certainly not how God feels about you. He values you, so much that He desires to listen to you; that is, He’s interested in what you have to say. God wants you to communicate your thoughts to Him; He wants you to know that He cares. He’s listening! But are you listening?

Well, if you’re listening then you’ll seek Him and find Him, when you search for Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Of course, this brings us to the question of what it really means to seek Him and find Him. What it means is that you’ll acknowledge that He’s present in your life, working out His good will in and through you, to bring about good things for you. Moreover you’ll also accept what He has to say to you, allowing Him to love you, and loving Him in return by accepting His thoughts as your own. Hence fostering a desire for the same things that He wants for you.

So, what have we learned about God here? Well, we’ve learned that He has thoughts of peace toward us, and doesn’t think evil of us, but wants to give us good things. Moreover, we’ve learned that He’s listening, which means He’s near. How could anyone not acknowledge God’s love in all of this? Without a doubt, He loves you, and wants to embrace you with mercy and kindness. He wants to give you a future and a hope. But will you cast those cares of yours on Him? He’s listening! Are you listening?