Hold Tight to What God has Given You

Do you have a special scripture passage? A life verse? Maybe something that God highlighted for you during a difficult time? Words of hope that you were able to cling to when darkness loomed large?

For me, it's 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 hope and a future. Then you will call on 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 know, those seem like everybody's verses these days. You see verse 11 in particular plastered on half the decor items at Hobby Lobby. It shows up on t-shirts and mugs. I suppose you could say it's become 'basic' in some Christian circles. But whether trendy or maligned, those verses still hold significance for me.

Not long after my son was born, I became ill. It hit me suddenly, and the whole thing was rather mysterious. It started with a strange feeling of weakness in my arms and legs. My body started to hurt everywhere, and I developed odd bruises up and down my arms. I also began dropping things -- water bottles, keys, plates. Nothing wanted to stay in my hands. After a while, I couldn't even effectively  hold a fork. I already struggled with fear and anxiety, and this illness just amplified my struggle. With no concrete diagnosis before me, my mind began to wander into the worst possible places. Suddenly, every worst-case-scenario became a forgone conclusion.

One night, I sat at the kitchen table with my Bible trying to find some peace before heading to yet another specialist the following morning. I knew more tests would be ordered, and I didn't think I could handle the answer. Panic seized my heart, and I flipped through the pages of scripture looking for some words of comfort. I was desperate. I cried out to God, but I couldn't hear anything through the fog of fear. Suddenly, I had a feeling I should get up from the table and walk to the kitchen counter. I don't really know why; it was just an impulse.

I stood at the counter and began thumbing through a pile of mail. Somehow, this ordinary act was able to momentarily distract me from my panic attack. Within the stack of mail, I saw a newsletter from a Christian ministry that was unfamiliar to me. For some reason, I flipped it over to look at the back. There, in a 3x2 inch box, was an ad for a Christian counselor. Underneath the ad, in tiny letters, was printed Jeremiah 29:11. It jumped off the page at me, and I ran back to my Bible to look it up. As I read that verse, along with the two following, peace flooded over me. I knew God was speaking to me in that moment. I even laughed. For the first time, I knew that my future was in his hands, and he really cared for me. I didn't know what the outcome of my doctor's appointment would be, but I knew he would get me through it.

Recently, I've read a slew of articles talking about why we aren't supposed to apply these verses to our own lives. We're guilty of taking them out of context. I understand, we modern Christians often decontextualize Biblical passages to suit our own purposes. And I agree, this can be a problem. After all, it's important to understand that these verses were written, as Jeremiah 29:4 tells us, to those God "carried into exile from Jerusalem into Babylon." His original audience was a very specific people group. But are we not also a people to whom He desires to speak?

Personally, I have a problem with limiting the ways in which God may speak to us. Who are we to assume that God can't use any passage of scripture to speak to us as individuals? If we acknowledge that scripture is God's inspired word, and we also accept that God is omnipotent, then shouldn't we also allow that God can use scripture, even that which was originally addressed to a different audience, in ways that may speak directly to us in a specific circumstance today?

First, we can learn something about the nature of God from the above passage. He has knowledge about his people. He listens to them when they pray. He is able to be found. Even while keeping in mind that these words were intended for a different audience, I can take comfort from the truth it conveys about God's nature. That in itself is valuable.

But I also know that God has spoken to me in a myriad of different ways throughout my life -- an encouraging word from a friend, a strangely detailed dream, a glorious sunset, a paragraph from a 19th century novel, a train ticket from a stranger. Why must we feel it necessary to limit the ways God speaks to us, especially when it comes to scripture? Isn't God's love for us able to transcend even the very context of a passage.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying scripture can say anything we choose. Truth is not subjective. But I firmly believe that an omnipotent, omniscient and LOVING God can (and will!) use absolutely anything to reach us when we have fallen into darkness and fear. So let's not put him in a box for fear of making a mistake. His grace is big enough to cover our errors. If we've misunderstood him, he'll gently let us know. Friends, don't let the skeptics and naysayers steal something from you that God has used for good. If you have a verse that is precious to your heart, don't let it go. Rejoice that you have a Father who knows you and can speak directly to your heart with comforting and encouraging words in whatever way HE chooses.