The Always GodПримерок

GOD IS FOR YOU In the Old Testament, God gave the people of Israel a reminder at a time when they desperately needed it. God allowed Nebuchadnezzar, the evil king of Babylon, to capture the Jewish people as a consequence for their sin. God then spoke to the prophet Jeremiah, letting him know that Israel would be in captivity for the next seventy years. To the Jewish people, this felt like a life sentence. For some of them, it was a life sentence. Yet in the midst of this, God showed up with a word for the people. God told them through Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you, . . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). That reminder God gave to the people of Israel is one that I believe he wants to give you. I’ll paraphrase what he was telling them but in first person so you can internalize it when you read it: God loves me and is for me. If that’s true, it changes everything. And it is true. And it’s amazing! Remember, God gave that message through Jeremiah when his people were at their worst. God loved his people even in their sin and rebellion. Yes, they experienced his judgment. God disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12:5–11), but he never stops loving those who are in relationship with him. I have an aunt who used to cross-stitch. (Stay with me here.) As a kid, I would sometimes flip the fabric to the backside. Even after she was done, there was no way you could make out the picture or writing from the back. It was just a tangled mess. This reminds me of God’s plans. Often, we are looking at the backside of the cross-stitch he is sewing. All we see are random strands of cut-up, unconnected thread that doesn’t make any sense. But from his perspective, God sees a beautiful tapestry. Jesus is called our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) in Scripture, and he promises that one day he will return and make all things right. Believing this, we can know with certainty that the always God is always here, always working, and always faithful. Repeat this out loud: “God loves me and is for me.” Is this hard for you to believe? Why or why not? We hope this plan encouraged you. Learn more about The Always God by Jarrett Stephens [ here ](https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/books/561920/the-always-god-by-jarrett-stephens/) .