Words of Faith: Go into this new year with hope, joy and peace

Let’s look at 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

What beautiful words God gave to the prophet Jeremiah for the Jewish people. After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God wanted them to know he had not forgotten or forsaken them. They were in his thoughts.

These words are precious promises we would all like to claim as we enter another year, and the good part is that we can. Jesus taught us that our God who cares for the sparrow who falls from its nest cares even more for us.

In this world of uncertainty, wars, elections and often fear, it is good to know that God has not forgotten us.

He has plans for you to bless you and prosper you and to give you hope and a future. These words are especially dear to me at this time in my life, as I will be retiring from full time ministry at the end of this month.

I’m not sure of all that is ahead, but I do know that the same God who has kept me and provided for me during 50 years of ministry will not fail me now. I am reminded of a minister friend who upon his approaching retirement was feeling uneasy about his future.

One day while praying, he felt his heavenly father say to him, “Justin, do you think I don’t care for ‘old sheep?’ ”

So today, whatever your age or your situation in life, please know that God loves you. He cares. The scriptures say that we have a High Priest eternal in the heavens who is touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Therefore you can go into this new year with confidence, hope, joy and peace.

I want to thank the editor of the Fort Mill Times, Michael Harrison for the opportunity he has given me to share my faith through this column. Also thanks to all of you who have either emailed me, called, or shared in person your appreciation for my writings in the Words of Faith. God bless you all and I pray you will enter into all the blessings that the Lord has for you in this new year.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Words of Faith: Go into this new year with hope, joy and peace."