God is at work

"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." Jeremiah 29:11

All of us have driven through construction zones. Some construction is very clear. You can drive through it and figure out exactly what the end result will be. However, there are some construction zones that are confusing. You begin to look around and wonder what in the world they are doing. Some zones look like a maze. But somewhere there is a plan. Somewhere someone has done all the work necessary to make sure that all the materials are in line. All of the roads will meet. All of the work done will be towards the desired goal.

I think many times life is a major construction zone. There are times in which God is at work in our world despite what we have done or what direction we are going. We make the construction difficult by the choices we make. God is always at work for good in our life. Though we slow down what God can do, God does not give up. Though we shut down the ability of God to go forward, God waits for us to open the door for construction to continue.

Construction is messy business. You have to be able to live through construction to see the final product. The middle of construction is the time when you want to simply give up. Nothing looks like it is ever going to finish. But it does. Finally one day, it becomes apparent.

A young woman began her work in college. She thought she wanted to study one thing only to find that she really was not cut out for that area. She thought of quitting. "I am just wasting time and money. I am a failure." But each time she would think it was the end, she would start again. It took her more work and longer hours but then one day it became clear to her where God wanted her to be. All the time she spent trying to discover what she wanted to be was the problem. Life became clear when she changed the question. She discovered her vocation—the work God desired for her.

Jeremiah was a young man speaking to a tired nation in exile. Life was difficult. Failures were more frequent than success. But Jerry spoke of a tomorrow that was designed by the Master Designer. Jerry gave them hope.

God is at work—do not forget that.

Pray for me as I pray for you.