He Knows Our Plans: Part Three

Date: March 5, 2008

This is the second to last article taken from the book, Liberating Your Ministry From The Success Syndrome, by Kent and Barbara Hughes. In some ways, I find it to be the most encouraging. We mentioned that God’s plans are known, eternal, continual, and settled. We now come to the apex of the promise which is the goodness of God's plan for us. Jeremiah says, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity.” Notice the profound depth of God’s goodness. It is seen in the word “welfare”. The word “welfare” literally means shalom/peace. This word shalom/peace means the absence of trouble. It also includes completeness, soundness, welfare, well-being, and wholeness. Put it all together, and the plan of God for you and me is shalom, our well-being. Therefore, if you have placed your trust in Christ, then it is true that you are the recipient of God’s goodness in His plans. He hasn’t somehow missed you or mistakenly cast you aside. No exceptions.

I delight in what Kent Hughes exclaims, “From this we understand that God can have no evil thoughts toward his own - no thoughts of calamity. He never has had an evil thought toward a child of His, and He never will.” Another scholar, Theodore Laetsch makes perceptive remarks when he writes:
“His plans concerning His people are always thoughts of good, of blessing. Even if He is obliged to use the rod, it is the rod not of wrath, but the Father's rod of chastisement for their temporal and eternal welfare. There is not a single item of evil in His plans for his people...” Well said, Theodore!

Will you be totally shielded from hardships in life? Of course not. Will trials come into your life? Obviously yes. But God’s plans for you are never plans for evil. God always has a watchful eye to our well-being and wholeness. How do we factor in the apparent evil or suffering encountered in life? Difficulties in our life don’t negate His goodness or faithfulness. Don’t misunderstand me; I am not looking for trouble. But trials are often a sobering teacher. God brings difficulty to teach us the blessing of living according to the Bible, and the beauty of living like Christ. In Psalm 119:71, the psalmist wisely writes, “It is good that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” Some learning only comes through difficulty. Some of the beauty of Christ only comes from pressure. Don’t be discouraged. Resist the temptation of being too introspective during pressure. God is using it in your life. God has afflicted us, but never with evil intentions. It doesn’t always feel good, and I don’t always act good; but God is always good and faithful. God’s plans are good because they are “for welfare and not for calamity.” I hope we can say amen to that.

In our next article, there is an important condition to meet, in order to make these truths live to the fullest. Until then, ponder His plans for your life, and the faithfulness of His heart.

Hoping for a tremendous Wednesday,

Rick Hoppe