“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I have several
favorite verses from the Bible, but I would have to say the verse that starts
this blog entry has been a part of my life the longest, and it’s one of the few
that I actually remember the book, chapter, and verse from the Bible every
time, without having to Google the words in the verse to find where it’s
located. This particular verse from the book of Jeremiah has been a comfort to
me in uncertain circumstances more times than I can remember. When I was a teenager, it helped me as I set
off to college, not knowing quite yet what career path life was going to take
me on. When I was struggling with my marriage and headed for what ultimately
ended up in divorce, I leaned on the second part of the verse, that God still
had a plan to prosper me, not to harm me, to give me hope and a future when my
future seemed really bleak at the time. In the past, the verse has always
served me, helped me, but now with 2 boys who are stuck in a situation created
by their parents, a situation they never asked to be in nor want to have to be
in, I am learning to apply this verse to them and would like to write out here
the prayers on my heart for my sweet baby boys. “Dear Father-God, I know the
plans you have for the precious children you have entrusted me with. I know
that you have plans to prosper them and not harm them, plans to give them hope
and a future. So, as we all face various
challenges with them as they age, new challenges as they hit a new stage in
their lives, moving away from one or more parents, stepping into a new world, I
pray this prayer over them. May they always know your love for them, may they
remember Jeremiah 29:11 when life seems hopeless, when they are not sure what
their future holds. May they feel your peace in the chaos of life, your mercy
and grace when they make mistakes, your guidance when they don’t know where to
go next, and your hand upon their lives and spirit within their souls no matter
who or what tries to turn them away from you.
Speak your words into their minds to comfort them as you have so often
with me over the years. Keep them close
to your heart as they are close to mine now.
Thank you for the blessing they have been to me and guide me in teaching
them your ways and raising them up as you would have me to. Help me to let go
when it’s time and hang on when the going gets rough, and most of all, guide me
in loving them the way you do, unconditionally and without reservations and
with forgiveness, grace, mercy, and immense understanding and patience every
step of the way."
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