Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."
Jeremiah 29:11, "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."
Have you ever been in the midst of a crisis seeking answers, any answer, and all you can get is an "I don't know" in response? Simply looking for some bastion of hope, you ask someone else, and they shrug their shoulders, look at you with a blank expression, and simply shake their head. Or, maybe you keep getting conflicting answers. Nonetheless, where there's no vision, we all remain in the dark.
Captured by the Babylonians and living in exile, the Israelites were unsettled and seeking answers. False prophets were promising a quick return. Was this true? Ironically, they forgot to ask God - but God had not forgotten them. Through the prophet Jeremiah, He comforted them with words of vision. He said, "I'm thinking about you. Your pain will last for a while, but I have plans to give you hope and a future!"
Maybe you're feeling hopeless, lost, or just discouraged by the circumstances we are facing as a nation. Or, perhaps a personal situation has stamped a huge question mark on your heart. Here's what's great! God's never had to say, "I don't know," and He never intended for you to live in the dark! He controls all things and desires to lead and protect you, to give you the hope of a much brighter tomorrow. So, right now, pause and look up, then lay your fear and confusion at the foot of the cross, the ultimate beacon of light.
Take some time to write down all of your current "I don't knows." Completely empty yourself of every single question mark occupying space in your thought life. Then, go through your list and think about what you DO KNOW about God. Allow the peace of His presence to flood your heart and mind.
Father, Thank You for giving me hope. I find comfort in the vision of Your Word. I may not always find the answers I seek, but know that You have a plan, that You are in control. In Jesus' name, Amen.