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" (Jer. 29:11). "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the devil, "plans to totally bankrupt you and to harm you, plans to make you hopeless and to destroy your future.

Just take the next step. I'll show you what to do from there." During so much of this walk with God, we feel blindfolded. Certain seasons are pocked with such random events that we decide all is helter-skelter. Other seasons seem so illustriously orchestrated that the ties between events are like streamers of spun gold. From the very beginning, God geared the faith walk to be relational, not informational. The latter was always intended for the sake of the former.

When we live under the umbrella of God's authority and seek to obey His commands, the enemy may oppose us and even oppress us, but he cannot thwart the fulfillment of God's plan for our lives.

Instead, my Lord, You have promised that Your plans for Your people are plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

As we seek to know His will and go where He sends us, God doesn't just wait for us at our next stop. He travels every mile right beside us.

Walk in the shadow of the Almighty. Grab onto the hem of His garment and find the healing and grace to go where He leads. In that place you will be equipped to do the impossible. There you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Let's be careful, though, that we don't err in the opposite extreme of faithless caution. A big difference exists between trying to manipulate God to give us what we want and cooperating with God so He can give us what He wants. The latter is our goal.

I know the plans I have for you … plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Forgive me for my unbelief [in myself]. If I realized how valuable I am, my insatiable need for affirmation would be quieted. Forgive me for being such a perfectionist that I resist doing something good out of fear that it won't be great.

What a relief to know that we'll never battle anything out of God's jurisdiction.

Those two words have echoed unceasingly in my mind ever since. In overriding matters God seems to work in themes with me.

How could this congregation of Christians so unthinkingly absorb the world's fearful anxiety and hateful distrust—and so easily?