Seeing Your Future Clearly
Pastor Reed Sowell
Navigating the future is a challenge that many of us face with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. The Bible offers us guidance and reassurance, especially in passages like Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
This verse is a powerful reminder that trusting God is the foundation of clarity and peace when looking ahead. Trust is easy when life is going well, but it becomes more difficult during times of challenge. Yet, reliance on God’s faithfulness is what allows us to face the future with confidence.
God’s ultimate goal for us is to grow in our trust in Him, not to diminish it. The more we follow Him, the more aware we become of our dependence on Him. This isn’t weakness—it’s strength. As we deepen our relationship with God, we learn that He is dependable, and this trust gives us hope.
Let’s explore how we can see our future clearly by engaging with our present, embracing trust, and entering the future with hope.
Engage Your Present With Contentment
In Jeremiah 29, we find the Israelites in exile, far from their homes and their familiar way of life. Their situation was dire—their temple was destroyed, their community was scattered, and they were living in a foreign land. Yet, in this season of despair, God instructed them:
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:5-7, NIV)
God’s message was clear: instead of merely enduring their circumstances, they were to embrace them. Building, planting, and seeking the prosperity of the city were active steps of faith and contentment. This was not resignation but a proactive decision to trust God and make the most of their present.
Many of us find ourselves in less-than-ideal circumstances. Perhaps your career isn’t where you imagined it would be, or your relationships feel strained. Contentment doesn’t mean denying the reality of these struggles; it means engaging with them while trusting that God is present and working through them.
J.I. Packer put it this way:
"We dishonor God if we proclaim a Savior who satisfies and then go around discontent."
God’s presence is not confined to the finish line of a perfect future; He walks with us in every step of our journey. By actively engaging with our present, we reflect a faith that is not shaken by circumstances and sets an example for others to follow.
Embrace Your Future With Trust
One of the most well-known verses in Jeremiah 29 is verse 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."
This verse is a reminder that God’s plans for us are good. Even when life feels uncertain, God’s sovereignty assures us that He is in control. Trusting in this truth allows us to release the need to control every detail of our future.
Romans 8:28 reinforces this idea:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Trusting God with our future doesn’t mean it will always be easy, but it does mean that we can face it without fear. God’s ultimate goal is to refine us and shape us to resemble Jesus more and more each day. This refining process often requires us to step out of our comfort zones and take bold steps of faith.
Francis Chan captures this idea beautifully in his book Crazy Love:
"God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through."
While comfort is alluring, it can’t compare to the joy of following Jesus fully. As you look toward the future, consider how God might be calling you to step out in trust, even when it feels risky.
Enter Your Future With Hope
In Jeremiah 29:12-14, God gives a promise to the Israelites:
"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 will be found by you," declares the Lord.
This passage highlights the importance of a relationship with God. Our hope for the future is not rooted in our circumstances but in our connection to Him. When we seek God with all our hearts, we find Him—and in finding Him, we find hope.
Hope is not the absence of challenges. The Israelites still had 70 years of exile to endure, but God’s promise sustained them. Similarly, we may face difficulties, but we can hold onto hope because of God’s faithfulness. He has a purpose for our lives, and He will see it through.
Think about your own life. Are you actively seeking God and trusting Him with your future? The more you lean into Him, the more you’ll experience His peace and guidance, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Living With Courage and Faith
As you step into the future, remember that God’s plans for you are good. He calls us to live courageously, trusting Him with every aspect of our lives. This kind of trust requires us to let go of our desire for control and to embrace the challenges that come our way as opportunities to grow in faith.
You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can be confident in the One who holds tomorrow. God’s love and faithfulness are unchanging, and His presence is your greatest source of strength and hope.