This is Pastor Tim’s article which appeared in the Evening Leader on Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026
One of my favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
I love this verse so much that I have it in huge print on a wall in my house. It reminds me of how the good Lord thinks of us all. It isn’t that every future event is going to be great and that I will love it. This speaks to the overall arc of our lives. They trend in positive directions. Even though we can find plenty to be negative about on a daily basis, we have to admit that over time, all of our lives have gotten better.
If you are at all familiar with the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, you know that he is not exactly known for a positive outlook on life. He is known as the weeping prophet for a good reason. His ministry took place during the time the people of God were being drug into exile by a foreign power. They were being conquered and despite Jeremiah’s pleas, no one changed their ways and destruction came. There are gut wrenching passages in this book where Jeremiah is treated horribly both by the invaders who were destroying his country and his own people who were sick of hearing him warn them about the impending disaster. Jeremiah wrote two books on our Old Testament. The other book is entitled Lamentations. He was not a man wearing rose colored glasses, to say the least.
Yet in the middle of this terror in which he lived, he was inspired to speak the words of Jeremiah 29:11. He was reminding everyone, including himself, that God’s plan is always moving toward healing and restoration. It is God’s ultimate goal to bless you even during terrible seasons. Had any other character from the Old Testament spoken these words, they would not be as powerful as having them come from the prophet of doom.
I give you these words of inspiration on our first time reflecting together in 2026. I want you to know that whatever blessings or curses that this year contains, God’s ultimate intent is to bless you. He knows the plans He has, and they are both good and hopeful. My prayer for you is that you will actively live into that preferred future. A future preferred by both you and by God Himself.
The best way to move into that preferred future is by using the principles of stewardship. Take care of what God has given you and be intentional about making good use of it. Of course that means spending your time and your money well, but it also means investing in relationships that are in your best interest. Love and serve your spouse. Make time for your kids. Understand friends are not people you are connected to on social media, they are people who are a part of your actual life. Go to Church, get some exercise, and make sure you are eating, praying and laughing well.
By doing these things, you please the Lord because these things improve the quality of your life. And as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, reminds us, improving the quality of your life is one of God’s great desires.