I love this verse for the hope it offers- It is quoted so much and gives great comfort:
"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 a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
But… I think it’s really important to read on and soak in what follows. Jeremiah 29:12-14- “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord “and will bring you back from captivity”.
Have you really sought after the Lord? Deeply and with all your heart? The only analogy I can think of is playing Hide and Seek—not a great analogy, I agree, but did you have a time when someone hid really well and you had to look in earnest? I mean really look. Every nook and cranny and hiding place that you could think of. And then you had to stop and think of more places that you didn’t think of before. Maybe you found the person….and then maybe you didn’t. But here’s the thing. God says He will be there and you will find Him. He’s not hiding- He is there. Sometimes it takes great concentrated effort on our part to put other worldly things totally aside and totally focus on Him- with all our heart with full on desire to communicate with our Lord.
He promises to listen. Call His name. Come and pray and He will listen. And then- more good news! He will be found by you. Just think of it. He will be found by you- It is an amazing, profound and wondrous declaration that our God is there, He is for us, and He desires that we come to Him, and He will be there. Your serious effort will not go unrewarded.
More good news! You will find Him and He will bring you back from whatever situation may be holding you captive. Whatever human ‘mess’ you may be in, (and as you know, there is no end to predicaments and trials), He is there to free you from it. He is ready to pour His grace, and His mercy and love into any situation you may be in. This is the God who frees us. This is the God who loves us. This is the God who rescues us.
Call upon Him. Pray to Him. Seek Him earnestly, thoughtfully, and fully with every fiber of your being. He promises to be there. Every time. And He will offer you His love and saving grace.