Prayer to know that God’s plan will not hurt you
Written by Kelly Eichberger
Bible reading:
“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.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Listen or read below:
When I reluctantly opened my eyes, the first thing that caught my eye was the clock on the wall. At 6:30pm I had returned for surgery 12 hours earlier. Suddenly an alarm hit me. The surgeon had told my husband it would be 6-8 hours, but I knew he would be worried. Something must have gone wrong. That was all my foggy head and numb body could think about. And without thinking, these words scrolled word by word in my head like subtitles. “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.” Although I was heavily sedated in the recovery room and was in and out of consciousness, I still remember this moment clearly and am in awe of the Lord. Thank you for conveying this truth to my heart at such a critical moment.
You are probably familiar with Jeremiah 29:11. And I myself cannot tell you how many times I have heard and recited these words. But a few months before surgery, it spoke to me and resolved in a different way. God’s specific plan to “do no harm to us” resonated with me more when I desperately wanted to know it.
Have you ever felt harmed or has a good future for you been in jeopardy? Maybe you have doubts about something right in front of you. It may not necessarily be fear of physical harm or health, but you may be questioning the safety and security of other vulnerable situations. If you still haven’t found a positive solution to your relationship, financial, work, or other situation. Understood. I have felt unsafe due to all sorts of struggles, and certainly many times before and after the complex spinal surgery I endured. But I am grateful for the truth of Jeremiah 29:11. And I am grateful for the perfect timing and shift in perspective that God has given me, which I would like to share with you today. Sure, his plan is to prosper us, but that means not harming us. And it is the harm that we so often fear: our downfall and destruction, the destruction of our hopes, our minds, our bodies. And while we are not immune to suffering as we live in a fallen world where Satan still seeks harm, God is victorious. His good intentions and plans negate any harm that his enemies may plan.
I knew right away that something had actually gone wrong after the surgery. Just as the surgeon finished the surgery and removed the chest tube, my blood pressure spiked and took several more hours to stabilize. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of more lows and twists in my recovery over the next few weeks, and that I would need these Bible truths more than I ever knew. This also applies to your life. When fear tells you that harm is coming, when your life is turned upside down and inside out, you need to hold tight to the hopeful promises of God.
I wrote these words on my heart, hoping they would never leave my sight or soul. I purchased a scripture shield to keep by my side before surgery and every day afterward to keep me grounded in the truth. The truth is, no matter how difficult things seemed, God’s plan was never to harm me. That no matter what my life looks like at the moment, God had a plan for my future. That was good. It was thriving. And it will always be a priority. And the same applies to you.
I hope you will write these truths from Jeremiah 29:11 on your heart and in the hallways of your home. Because life does not always lead to an easy path free from struggle and suffering. I’m sure you’re facing something difficult today. We all will always do that to some extent. But what we can be sure of is that no matter where God leads our path, God’s plan will never harm us. God’s plan for us is for a good future. A future filled with His presence and peace. And God’s plans always succeed and succeed.
Let’s pray:
Lord God, your plans are never to harm or hurt me, but I feel this fear very often. I want to truly believe in the truth that no matter where I end up, no matter what difficult path I end up on, you still have a good plan. The enemy intends to harm me, but You intend to help me and lead me into a beautiful future filled with Your goodness. Your protective, peaceful and loving presence. Lord, I praise you that your plan is successful and so wonderful. In the name of Jesus, amen.
If you liked what you read, you might also like my latest book, Conquering Worries: Conquering What Shakes You and Soaring with Those Who Overcome. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retailer. I hope it brings you blessings!
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Motortion
Kelly Eichberger is a Kentucky girl who loves Jesus. She is married to her best friend Mike and they have five children. After years of writing for online audiences, Keri was ordained through Southeast Christian Church and dedicated her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes and is passionate about sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at kerieichberger.com or on Instagram.
Related resources: What to do when God seems far away
What do we do when God no longer feels as close as he used to?
Many sincere believers go through seasons when their prayers feel empty, their Bibles feel silent, and God feels mysteriously absent. Especially for leaders, these seasons can feel confusing, discouraging, and even embarrassing.
In this episode of the Unhurried Living podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss his new book, When God Seems Distant, co-written with John Coe. If this episode helps you focus your work and life on God, follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
