Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. ” The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah (circa 650-570 BC), gives what appears to be a fairly optimistic bit of advice in our verse for today. And while the counsel is good, when read it context, the focus is more on what happens if one doesn't "trust in the Lord."
Saint Basil the Great (AD 330-379) explained: "The person who relies on himself, or even on someone whose duty it is to provide for his needs, runs the risk of falling under the curse, 'I, the Lord, have put a curse on those who turn from me and who trust in human strength.' [Jeremiah 17:5] This scripture forbids a person to place his hope in another, and 'make flesh his arm'—thereby trusting in Himself. To do so is a defection from the Lord. For anyone to place his trust either in himself or another is to alienate himself from the Lord."
As humans, it is easiest to trust in what we can see; in what is "proven" trustworthy. And yet, the Lord's prophet, Jeremiah, not only warns us against that somewhat faithless approach to life, but he also promises us great blessings if we will fight that natural inclination. Ultimately, as Saint Basil pointed out, trusting in anything but God is really alienating ourselves from God. And that will always lead to disaster—not because God will reject us, but because we have rejected Him and the aid He would willing provide us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
