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Jeremiah 29:11-13 – 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. 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. (NIV)
I enjoy word puzzle searches. Word puzzles are made up of a grid composed of letters which form words. There is a list of words with each puzzle. The trick is that the words can go in any direction on the page. They run forwards or backwards, up or down, or crosswise diagonally in the grid. Sometimes, a given word will leap out at me as I search for it, while other times, I can search and search and not find the word. There are moments when I am absolutely sure that the printers have made a mistake and that the given word is simply not in the maze. When I get to feeling this way, I have learned that the only way to solve the puzzle is not to give up, but to employ extreme diligence and tenacity.
Likewise, I have also discovered this secret when it comes to my spiritual life. Sometimes, finding goodness and wellbeing in the plan that God has for my life takes a lot of tenacity and diligence amidst the search. There are days when God seems so close that I could reach out and touch Him. I have times when His plan seems so very clear. Then, there are other days when I am a captive to my own negative and depressing thoughts and situations. I have no idea what the plan is amidst the maze of life's circumstances, or how anything is ever going to work out for good.
On such days, I wonder where God is. Does He not care about me? Has He left me alone, turned His back upon me? It seems that no amount of Scripture brings me comfort. My prayers simply seem to bounce off the ceiling. Nothing my friends say helps.
Perhaps you have days like this too. Maybe you're even having one of those days today. If so, I encourage you not to give up, never ever. Be tenacious and diligent; it works. Today's Scripture admonishes us to continue to seek God with all our heart amidst the puzzle of our life, for when we do so, He has promised that we will find Him, and God always tells the truth.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You that You are always near to us and that Your plans for our lives are always good: plans to prosper us, not to harm us. Grant us this day the diligence and tenacity to seek You with all our heart in whatever situation we find ourselves. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
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